| A point for each side was
a fair result, as Tring and Chalfont battled
against wind, rain and a slippery pitch to
produce a game that was not blessed with great
quality, but had its share of drama towards the
end. Tring had another new signing on display in
Ceri Marshman, who has previously played for
Aylesbury United. Tring manager Howard Cowley
commented: "I was very pleased with the
players' response after half-time. Ceri Marshman
brings strength and experience to the side, and
there are other new signings to follow. We are
continuing to show an improvement. David Clark
continued his good form with an excellent penalty
save" There
were few scoring chances in a poor first half
during which both teams struggled. Chalfont
keeper Danny Coleman had only one save to make,
from Jamie Hall's angled shot on 22 minutes. Sean
Sangster's long-range shot on 33 minutes was
narrowly wide, and there was a chance for Alex
Kinsley in the last minute of the half when two
defenders slipped to leave him clean through, but
Kinsley spooned his shot high and wide.
Tring's play was
much improved during the opening minutes of the
second half as they kept the ball and passed it
much better, although when their goal arrived on
68 minutes it was somewhat out of the blue. The
ball came to Kinsley just outside the penalty
area, and he swung his boot at it. The ball
looped up in the air and caught Coleman by
surprise as it went over his head and dipped
below the bar into the net.
There was
another chance for Tring three minutes later when
Kinsley challenged Coleman in the air for Mike
Hemmingway's cross from deep and won, but as the
loose ball dropped for Jamie Hall, Coleman
recovered to beat away Hall's shot. However,
Chalfont fought their way back into the game and
should have equalised on 73 minutes when Barry
Brosnan's cross found Gary Blake unmarked in
front of goal, but Blake headed over the bar. A
minute later Brosnan threatened again as he made
a mazy run into the box, but his shot went across
the face of goal, just eluding a couple of
sliding attempts to reach it. Chalfont's threat
was becoming greater, and their equaliser arrived
on 83 minutes. Slack marking allowed Brosnan to
rise unchallenged and head home Gavin Windell's
cross.
Some rash
challenges on both sides were causing tempers to
rise, and Chalfont's Ben Walker should have seen
red five minutes from time when he retaliated on
Hemmingway with a push and a kick, but all three
officials claimed to be unsighted and the only
card was a yellow shown to Hemmingway for his
poor tackle.
The major
talking point was still to come, however. In
injury time a defensive slip allowed Brosnan to
go clean through. Brosnan knocked the ball past
Tring keeper David Clark, but was then toppled by
Clark's sliding challenge. The referee pointed to
the penalty spot, and as the last man, Clark
would have expected to see a red card. However,
the referee adjudged that Brosnan would not have
caught up with the ball, and Clark was only shown
the yellow card. Clark made the most of his
reprieve as he dived to his left and saved
Windell's penalty, ensuring that his side hung on
to their point.
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