1/9/01: FA Cup Preliminary Round

Tring Town 0 Cogenhoe United 2

Tring's hopes of a money-spinning run in the FA Cup ended in very disappointing fashion at the first hurdle in Saturday's game. For various reasons Tring were missing six players from last Saturday's team, but that does not excuse the lifeless nature of the performance, which manager Howard Cowley described as a "shambles".

The visitors did not have a lot to offer either, and the first notable action of the match came on 24 minutes when Cogenhoe took the lead. Aidie Mann got to the bye-line and pulled the ball back for Paul Wagstaff to shoot home from the edge of the penalty area.

Tring's inability to pass the ball and get in telling crosses meant that they couldn't build up any pressure on the Cogenhoe goal, and their first serious effort was a long-range shot from Ben Chesters on 39 minutes that went just over the bar. Two minutes from the break Tring were in further trouble when Man went on a darting run into the box and was tripped by Wayne Barber. Mark Parsons put away the penalty comfortably to leave Tring with a mountain to climb.

Tring had a chance in the opening minutes of the second half when Scott Walters' flick-on gave Alex Kinsley a run at goal, but Kinsley shot straight at the keeper. However, Tring could not raise themselves from their lethargy, and with Cogenhoe also creating little, the match petered out to a tame conclusion.

Team: Hunt, Underwood, Read, Bartlett, L.Johnson, Boad, Chesters, Barber (Groves), Walters, Kinsley, Beamish.