18/8/01: Ryman League Division Three

Tring came away empty-handed from their opening league match of the season, and by a cruel twist of fate it was an injury-time own goal by their captain Mark Underwood that condemned them to defeat.

The visitors were slow out of the blocks and were behind from the first real attack of the game after only five minutes. A quick break left Tring short at the back, and a pass across the face of the penalty area found Robert Dawson with the space to hit a firm first-time shot past Simon Bartley.

Tring's first opening came on 8 minutes when a cross-field pass from Tony Cook found Alex Kinsley, who beat one defender but then hit his shot over the bar. Egham had another good spell towards the end of the half and should have gone further in front on 29 minutes when a chipped pass from Dawson left Gavin Murnagh with only Bartley to beat, but his shot was too casual and Bartley turned it around the post.

There was a much improved start to the second half from the Tring side, and they equalised with an impressive goal on 52 minutes. Ben Chesters played a long pass from deep inside his own half which set Kinsley clear down the right. Kinsley outpaced the chasing defender and squared the ball for the arriving Scott Walters to sidefoot home from the six-yard line.

Tring almost went in front on 71 minutes when Underwood floated a corner to the far post. Lee Johnson got on the end of it, but his header was superbly headed off the line by defender Paul Gower.

Both sides looked capable of winning the game, but as it went into injury time it looked like ending up as an honourable draw. However, from an Egham free kick, Bartley could only punch the ball away as far as James Farmer, whose shot on the rebound was going in until Lee Johnson headed it over the bar. The resulting corner caused further problems as Tring had to clear two efforts off the line. Underwood attempted to hack the ball clear but unfortunately sliced it into his own net, and there was not enough time left for Tring to have a chance of rescuing the game.

Team: Bartley, Underwood, Harrhy, B.Johnson, L.Johnson, Boad, Chesters (Gallagher), Cook, Butler, Kinsley, Walters (Burfoot).