11/9/01: Ryman League Division Three

Tring earned a point from last night's encounter with second-placed Bracknell Town, which was the least they deserved for their best performance of the season so far. Tring played some excellent football and worked hard for the whole ninety minutes in an entertaining, evenly-contested match.

Tring battled hard from the start, and in the opening ten minutes both Steve Boad and Dave Butler hit good shots which were on target but saved by keeper Martin Hutt. On 21 minutes Ben Chesters curled a free kick over the wall, but Hutt again dived to keep out the shot. Simon Bartley pulled off the first of two crucial saves on 25 minutes as he came off his line to beat away a shot from Dave Osgood after he had been put through by Simon Teague.

Having played so well throughout the half, Tring lost concentration in the final minute. Teague was allowed to break clear down the right, and he squared for Osgood, who had the time to control the ball before shooting Bracknell into the lead on the stroke of half time.

However, Tring were back level within three minutes of the restart through a superb solo goal. Wayne Barber robbed Giles Marchant near the right touchline, and the 18-year old surged into the penalty area past a couple of defenders before hitting a low shot past Hutt's left hand into the corner of the net.

Bartley made his second crucial save on the hour when he again denied a Bracknell forward in a one-on-one situation, but it was Tring who came closest to winning the game. On 67 minutes Alex Kinsley crossed to the far post and Chesters got on the end of it with a first time volley. Chesters could not have made better contact with the ball but somehow Hutt kept out the rasping shot, although he know little about it. Two minutes later Butler's pass put Chesters through on goal again and he hit another firm shot across goal which was inches wide of the far post. Two minutes from time Chesters jinked on the edge of the area before trying an audacious chip. Hutt was beaten but the ball came back off the bar and the rebound just eluded Butler.

Team: Bartley, Cook, Barber, Bartlett, L.Johnson, Boad, Chesters, Underwood (C.Gibson), Butler, Kinsley, Beamish.