27/10/01: Ryman League Division Three

What a difference a week makes! Last Saturday Tring's horror show saw them go out of the Vase, this week they were back to their best. A first half double from Scott Walters was enough to see off Epsom and Ewell, who were unbeaten in their previous ten league games. Manager Howard Cowley unveiled his latest signing in Gary Winks, and his solid performance at the back was one of the key factors in Tring's success. After his years of experience at Berkhamsted Town and Hemel Hempstead, Winks becomes another of the elite few players to have appeared for all three of Dacorum's Ryman League clubs.

After an evenly-fought opening to the game which saw neither keeper severely tested, Tring took the lead in the 29^th minute. After interchanging passes with Neal Bartlett, Dave Butler played the through ball which put Scott Walters clear and left the Epsom players looking for an offside flag which never materialised. Walters approached keeper Dave Hyatt from a narrow angle, and although his first effort was saved by Hyatt, Walters made no mistake when the rebound came back to him.

An angled shot from Epsom's Joel Rogers produced Simon Bartley's first serious save on 43 minutes, and a minute later Rogers hit a shot which had Bartley beaten but shaved the outside of the post. That was a key moment, as within seconds of almost being pulled back to level terms, Tring had doubled their lead. Walters ran on to another through pass, and his first shot was blocked by defender Nigel Bennett, but from the rebound Walters struck a superb volley from 18 yards which flew past Hyatt to put Tring 2-0 ahead at the break.

Tring kept up the same level of performance in the second half and were unlucky not to add further goals. Two well-taken corners by Sean Sangster were met with headers by Leon Hibbert and Lee Johnson on 62 and 68 minutes respectively, Hibbert's was deflected wide and Johnson's was inches over the bar. Walters had a chance to complete his hat-trick ten minutes from time when Chris Gibson's pass set him up, but Hyatt turned his shot round the post.

Although the visitors were limited to few chances, Bartley produced his best save of the match to keep out a header from James Hall two minutes from time and deny any chance of a late Epsom revival.

Team: Bartley, C.Gibson, Winks, Bartlett, L.Johnson, Boad, Sangster (Oliver), Walters, Butler, Kinsley (Hibbert), Beamish.