16/10/01: Ryman League Division Three

Tring's unbeaten run came to an end, although they put up a creditable show against the league leaders with a performance that merited a point.

Tring were under heavy pressure early on in the match, and would have gone behind after just five minutes but for Chris Gibson's goal-line clearance of Rikki Harle's header. On 15 minutes Tring could only clear as far as the edge of the penalty area, where it was met by Tony Leary with a shot that Billy Davies got a hand to, but just squeezed inside the post. It was the first goal that Tring had conceded in 423 minutes of football.

On 22 minutes Tring were in trouble again as Lee Fulling showed good pace down the left and shot from a narrow angle, but Lee Johnson cleared it off the line. Tring began to play their way into the match, but were hit by a second goal a minute before the break. Steve Blaney jinked past Wayne Barber and whipped in a fierce cross which Fulling diverted into the net although probably not knowing much about it.

However, in first half injury time Tring got themselves back into the game. A neat turn by Tony Cook got him behind the Aveley defence, and he pulled the ball back for Scott Walters, who took a touch before firing into the corner of the net.

During the second half, Tring had the bulk of the possession and territorial advantage but could not convert their dominance into clear-cut scoring chances. As they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, gaps began to open up at the back, and five minutes from time a pass put Blaney through on goal to shoot home a third goal for Aveley which gave the scoreline a rather unjust look.

Team: Davies, B.Johnson (Hibbert), Barber (Groves), Bartlett, L.Johnson, Boad, C.Gibson (Oliver), Cook, Walters, Kinsley, Sangster.