The first chance of the game fell to Tring on 5 minutes. Mike Hemmingway's free kick was flicked on by Jamie Hall to Kevin Chakaodza, whose powerful header brought a flying save out of Watford keeper Richard Lee. The visitors then put on a display of their attacking potential, with Jason Norville shooting just over the bar from a narrow angle a minute later. On 8 minutes Neil Saunders struck the post with a shot, and Tring keeper David Clark did well to smother Nick Wright's effort on the rebound. Clark was also fully extended by a 25-yarder from Jamie Hand on 10 minutes.

However, there were chances at both ends in this very entertaining half. On 13 minutes Hemmingway's cross to the far post found Alex Kinsley, whose looping header was just tipped onto the bar by Lee. On 28 minutes an early ball forward from Leon Hibbert was flicked on by Hall into the path of Chakaodza, who ran on to shoot just wide of the far post. Two minutes later Hibbert found himself outfoxed by Norville, who then went on to shoot wide with only Clark to beat.

As would be expected, Tring's efforts in the first half left them with little in the tank for the second half, but they still gave their all and defended solidly despite being penned in their own half for long periods. Tring's only chance of the half came on 73 minutes when Kinsley broke down the right and crossed, and although Hall got in ahead of the keeper he couldn't keep the ball under the bar. There weren't too many clear-cut chances at the other end either, and the winning goal came from a corner on 76 minutes. Matt Langston headed home via a deflection from Clark's gloves as the Tring keeper tried in vain to collect the cross.

Clark prevented a second Watford goal with a tremendous flying save to keep out Ashley Young's fierce long-range shot on 85 minutes, and although Tring didn't look like getting back into the game, they emerged with their pride intact. The challenge for them now is to play with the same confidence and belief in their league matches.