5/1/02: Ryman League Division Three

Tring threw away two points as they surrendered a 3-1 lead in the last five minutes against a youthful Edgware Town team that had lost their last eight league games.

Tring started the game slowly and could have been behind after 5 minutes when casual defending allowed Edgware's Anthony Thomas to strike a shot from distance which rattled the crossbar. However, three minutes later it was Tring that were ahead as Mark Underwood swung over a cross and Antony Beamish powered home a header. They almost doubled their lead within two minutes when Ben Chesters sent over another excellent corner but Lee Johnson's header was saved by the keeper.

The keeper produced another good save on 19 minutes to keep out Dave Butler's shot from a narrow angle, but had no chance when Tring added a superb second goal on 25 minutes. Underwood broke down the right and beat a defender before crossing to the far post, where Chesters met the ball with a full-blooded volley that flew into the net. Tring had other good chances and looked comfortable with a 2-0 half-time lead.

However, Tring again looked sluggish at the start of the second half and allowed the visitors to take the initiative. On 58 minutes they pulled a goal back which was not undeserved. Tobi Oshitola broke clear and hit a shot which Simon Bartley could only parry, and Thomas followed up to net the rebound and put Edgware back in the game.

Tring's football was lacking coherence, but on 69 minutes they put together a good move which enabled them to restore their two-goal lead. Alex Kinsley received the ball and sent over a cross from near the corner flag and Steve Boad was unmarked at the far post to head home Tring's third goal.

That should have been that, and six minutes from time Kinsley had a chance to seal the game when he was clean through, but instead hit a weak shot which gave the keeper no trouble. Within a minute of that Edgware broke away and Thomas struck a shot which hit the far post and bounced back along the line to the other post. However, Thomas had the presence of mind to follow up his own shot and was on hand to put away the rebound.

Tring were looking very nervy at this stage, and could not hold on to their slender lead. Two minutes from time Bartley dropped a catch under heavy pressure, and Edgware's veteran player/manager Colin Payne stabbed home the loose ball to pull the scores level.

Tring were lucky to escape with a point in the end, as Thomas had a clear run on goal in injury time, but Bartley pulled off a great save to turn his shot around the post.

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