"A complete
shambles" was how Tring manager Howard
Cowley described his side's performance, as they
were humiliated by an in-form Leighton Town side.
Individual errors again contributed to several of
the goals, but in general Tring were not in the
game from the outset. Ironically, two former
Tring players in Matt Rawdon and James Armstrong,
who were unable to establish themselves in the
side during their spells at the club, scored
hat-tricks.
Leighton almost went in front in the opening
minute, but Bruce Wilson's long-range effort
struck the bar. They only had to wait until the
14th minute, though. David Clark did well to save
a shot from Armstrong but Rawdon followed up to
net the rebound. As with last week's game, the
visiting side needlessly reduced themselves to
ten men, this time it was Leighton's Josh Price
who departed with a red card on 22 minutes for
violent conduct.
Tring's numerical advantage only lasted for two
minutes. Clark again made a good save, but the
rebound, which was struck fiercely from close
range, hit the shoulder of Paul Turner who was
standing on the line. The referee interpreted
this as deliberate handball, and gave Turner the
red card, his second of the season. Rawdon netted
the penalty to put Leighton 2-0 up.
Things did not improve for Tring. On 42 minutes
Brian Johnson dallied on the ball in his own half
and was robbed by Armstrong, who went on to round
Clark and slot the ball home to leave Tring
facing a 3-0 half-time deficit for the second
game in a row.
If Tring harboured any hopes of a second half
revival, they were dashed by two further goals in
the opening three minutes of the half. On 47
minutes Rawdon completed his hat-trick by lobbing
Clark from 30 yards, and a minute later Sam
Byfield hit a volley from the angle of the
penalty area which Clark thought was going wide,
but crept inside the past.
Five goals down, the Tring heads had now well and
truly dropped, and the rampant Leighton side
could have scored any number of goals. In the end
Armstrong completed his hat-trick with shots in
the 58th and 65th minutes, and only a few good
saves from Clark prevented further disaster.
Late strikes from Alex Kinsley on 83 minutes and
Kevin Chakaodza on 88 minutes were scant
consolation, and the final whistle was a merciful
release. Cowley's side must now try to lift
themselves before their league programme resumes
with a home game against Camberley Town on
January 4th. |
|
| Tring Town: 1.
David Clark, 2. Joe Gibson, 3. Wayne Barber, 4. Leon
Hibbert, 5. Brian Johnson, 6. Paul Turner, 7. Gary Clark,
8. Mike Hemmingway, 9. Andy Sissons, 10. Alex Kinsley,
11. Dean Hutchinson. Subs: 12. Kevin Chakaodza (for
Hibbert 56 mins), 14. Gary Lawson, 15. Rob Woolfrey (for
Johnson 53 mins), 16. Ricky Levenston (for Barber 50
mins) GK. Mark Whittamore Leighton Town:
1. Simon Ryder, 2. Josh Price, 3. James Kidd, 4. Gavin
Jaggard, 5. Paul Matthews, 6. Jason Haggerwood, 7. Sam
Byfield, 8. Bruce Wilson, 9. James Armstrong, 10. Matt
Rawdon, 11. Antony Beamish. Subs: 12. Marc Redsull (for
Armstrong 71 mins), 14. Andy Marriott (for Jaggard 76
mins), 15. John Bentley (for Rawdon 60 mins) 16. James
Dewick.
Bookings:
18 mins - Leighton - Price (dissent)
29 mins - Leighton - Jaggard (foul)
32 mins - Tring - G.Clark (foul)
80 mins - Leighton - Matthews (foul)
Sent
Off:
22 mins - Leighton - Price (violent conduct)
24 mins - Tring - Turner (deliberate handball)
Referee:
Alan Dowling
Attendance:
77
|