7/4/01: Ryman League Division Three

A lacklustre performance saw Tring fall to a defeat against an Epsom and Ewell side strongly in contention for promotion.

Tring made a shaky start to the game and were behind within two minutes of the kick-off. Epsom striker Barry Stevens was allowed time and space on the edge of the area to run and line up a shot which gave Simon Bartley little chance.

That set the pattern for a first half in which Tring rarely got into the opposition half and Epsom were only denied further goals by the woodwork twice and some desperate goal-line defending.

Tring manager Mick Vipond made changes at half time in an attempt to turn the tide, but another early goal knocked them back further. Three minutes into the half, while most of the spectators were still watching the Grand National, Jamie Buckley swung over a corner and James Hall headed home a second goal for Epsom.

However, within three minutes Tring were back in the game. A cross from Mark Underwood was not cleared, and Antony Beamish's shot across the face of goal was turned into his own net by Hall, who had quickly turned from hero to villain.

Tring had more possession in the second half, but Epsom always looked the more likely side to score. They should have increased their lead on 59 minutes when Ben Forey beat Bartley and Brian Johnson to a through pass, but put his shot wide of the gaping net. The third goal arrived on 72 minutes, and it was similar to the first, as again Stevens was allowed the space to shoot from the edge of the area and again found the back of the net.

Alex Kinsley missed a good chance to pull another goal back when he shot wide from close range in the final minutes, but in the end Tring can have few complaints about the result.

Team: Bartley, B.Johnson, Groves (Oliver), Bartlett, Underwood, Boad, J.Gibson, Cook, Burfoot (Kelly), Kinsley, Beamish (Hibbert).