1/4/02: Ryman League Division Three

Tring made it six points out of six over the Easter holiday and kept up their outside promotion hopes with another excellent win, ensuring that Leighton boss Paul Burgess did not enjoy his return to his old stamping ground.

There were few chances in a cagey opening to the game, although Tring might have gone in front on 8 minutes if Antony Beamish's fierce volley from 18 yards hadn't cannoned off the head of Leighton defender Steve Gallen, leaving him requiring treatment. At the other end, Leighton forward John Bentley should have done better on 20 minutes when Josh Price's free kick found him unmarked, but he headed over the bar.

On 27 minutes Tring's Mark Congalton battled well to win the ball on the bye-line and crossed to the far post, but Alex Kinsley could only volley the ball back across the face of goal and wide. However, a minute later Mark Underwood's long throw was flicked on by Dave Butler to Kinsley, who struck a first-time shot from six yards that gave Leighton keeper Kevin Higby no chance and sent Tring into the break ahead.

Tring made the best possible start to the second half when they doubled their lead in the opening minute. Congalton's cushioned header set up Kinsley to cross, and although Butler's diving header was saved by Higby, the rebound fell nicely for Beamish to tuck the ball home.

Tring seemed to be holding on to their two-goal lead comfortably until 69 minutes when the referee adjudged that Neal Bartlett had held down a Leighton player in the box and awarded a penalty. Tring keeper Simon Bartley guessed the right way to save Billy Perry's spot-kick, however, Perry was quicker off the mark than the Tring defenders and got to the rebound first to force the ball home and give Leighton an unexpected lifeline.

Tring endured an uncomfortable few minutes as Leighton pressed forward for an equaliser, but eventually regained their composure and restored their two-goal lead on 79 minutes. Underwood's long throw was headed clear, but he retrieved the rebound and floated a perfect cross to the far post for Ben Chesters to head his 14^th goal of the season.

For the remainder of the game the only threat to the Tring goal came from their own players - Chris Gibson sliced a clearance just over his own bar, and Beamish headed against his own post, but Tring almost added another goal in the final minute when Butler got to the bye-line and pulled the ball back for Chesters, but his goal-bound shot was deflected over the bar by the boot of Gallen. The three points won takes Tring to 58 points - their highest tally for 13 years, with five games still to play.

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