15/12/01: Ryman League Division Three

After their two away wins, Tring were brought back down to earth. Although Tring manager Howard Cowley admitted that his side did not play well, they certainly did not deserve to lose by three goals, in a match played on a difficult surface. In addition to the players missing through injury and suspension in last week's match, they were also without the influential Chris Gibson this week due to an ankle injury.

Both sides struggled to come to terms with the conditions early on, and neither keeper was extended until 33 minutes when Tring's Simon Bartley raced out of his goal to clear from Gavin Murnagh, only to kick the ball straight to Tony Thompson. However, Bartley saved Thompson's shot with his legs outside his penalty area. Two minutes later Egham went close again when former Tring player Paul Turner headed over the bar from a free kick. Towards the end of the half Tring got back into the game, with both Alex Kinsley and Scott Walters having strong runs at goal, although neither forced the keeper to make a save.

The pace of Egham's front players caused Tring's defenders plenty of problems, and within two minutes of the restart Thompson should have put Egham ahead when he was clean through, but Bartley stood up well and saved with his legs again. However, on 54 minutes Tring went behind to a poor goal. As a free kick was floated in from distance, Antony Beamish tried to head the ball back to Bartley, but Clayton Whittle nipped in between them and put away the loose ball for a simple goal.

Within a minute Egham could have been two up when Thompson was sent clear again, but this time put his shot wide. Tring then enjoyed their best spell of the match and should have at least brought the scores back to level. On 61 minutes Dave Butler sent over a cross which Wayne Barber got on the end of with a good shot, but Egham keeper Lee Edwards saved well. A poor goal kick from Edwards then put Egham in more trouble as Butler played the ball through to put Walters clear, but Walters' attempted lob went well over the bar. Butler himself had a chance after playing a one-two with Mark Underwood, but Edwards pulled off another crucial save.

With ten minutes left Cowley sent on two newcomers in an attempt to save the game, but neither Kingston Olaniran or Mark Congalton could turn the game Tring's way. Five minutes from time Tring fell victim to another individual mistake. Bartley raced out of his area to clear from Thompson, but slipped over as he kicked the ball, leaving Thompson with plenty of time to put the ball into the empty net.

That made the scoreline rather flattering to the visitors, but to add insult to injury, Neal Bartlett was harshly adjudged to have fouled Turner inside the area deep into stoppage time, and Murnagh made it 3-0 from the penalty spot with literally the last kick of the game.

Team: Bartley, Boad (Congalton), Barber, Bartlett, B.Johnson, Underwood, Sangster, Walters (Olaniran), Butler, Kinsley, Beamish.