5/5/01: Ryman League Division Three

Tring Town 1 Hornchurch 1

Tring had to be content with a final finish of 12th place after once again dropping points from a match in which they had enough chances to win comfortably.

The main culprit in terms of missed chances was Scott Walters, whose first chance came on 9 minutes when the ball dropped for him inside the six yard box, only for him to scoop his shot over the bar.

However, Tring did manage to take an early lead on 13 minutes. Tony Cook received a pass from Sean Sangster, and showing a level of composure not seen subsequently in the game, sidestepped the keeper before steadying himself and slotting into the net.

Another chance was missed on 18 minutes when Lee Johnson flicked on a near-post corner only for Antony Beamish to head wide at the far post when it seemed easier to score.

Hornchurch had not been in the game up to this point, but they were gifted an equaliser on 26 minutes, when a miscued defensive header fell straight to Paul Barnes, who could hardly believe his luck as he had only Simon Bartley to beat and did so with ease.

The second half saw Tring squander more chances to win the game. On 61 minutes a pass from Leon Hibbert put Walters through on the keeper, and although Walters seemed to be offside, the referee played on. However, Walters' shot went high and wide. On 70 minutes Hibbert did well to deliver an overhead cross from the bye-line. It seemed that Walters only had to make contact to score, but somehow he headed straight downwards and the ball bounced up short of the goal line. A minute later Walters was denied again when his close-range shot was blocked on the line.

Try as they might, Tring could not force the winning goal and had to settle for the point.

Team: Bartley, J.Gibson, Harrhy, Bartlett, L.Johnson, Boad, Cook (Hibbert), Sangster, Walters, Kinsley, Beamish (Burfoot).