Tring came away from the
long trip to Witham with a point, but they were
only denied all three points by a late equaliser,
and should still have won the game given the
number of chances they created.
Tring had generally had the better of play over a
quiet opening period, but they didn't come close
to scoring until 22 minutes, when Kevin Chakaodza
laid the ball off to Dennis Fenemore, whose
long-range shot went just wide. However, two
minutes later Tring were behind, thanks to poor
defending at a corner. Justin Pearce rose
unmarked, and although his header hit the post,
the rebound was chested in by Ben Lawson.
Tring didn't really deserve to be behind, and it
only stayed that way for 10 minutes. Chakaodza
was threatening inside the penalty area, and as
he tried to lift the ball over a defender, the
defender handled the ball. The referee spotted it
and awarded Tring the penalty, and Alex Kinsley
sent the keeper the wrong way to put Tring back
on level terms.
They were well on top now, and Chakaodza almost
put Tring in front on 38 minutes with a shot from
30 yards that went just over the angle. He only
had to wait another two minutes, though. Brian
Johnson's long ball from his own half was
helpfully flicked on by a Witham defender to put
Chakaodza through, and he lofted the ball over
the advancing keeper to send Tring into the break
with a 2-1 lead.
The second half saw Tring penned back in their
own half for longer periods than in the first,
although their much improved discipline at the
back continued from recent games and allowed the
home side few sights at goal. Tring had a few
promising moments on the break, most often
provided by the runs of Fenemore, but often the
final ball was lacking. Seven minutes from time
Tring thought they had clinched a crucial two
goal lead when Fenemore swept the ball home from
ten yards, but for the second game running
Fenemore had a goal ruled out. The referee
adjudged that Dave Butler had fouled a defender
when he helped on Chakaodza's cross, although few
in the ground could see what the foul was
supposed to be.
Instead, Tring's weakness at defending corners
proved their downfall four minutes from time. The
ball was flicked on at the near post, and Simon
Roberts came in unmarked at the far post to head
home the equaliser.
Even then Tring could have won the game as they
rallied during seven minutes of stoppage time.
Chakaodza squared the ball to set up a good
shooting chance for Wayne Barber which he slotted
wide, Chakaodza himself headed against the post
from Butler's cross, and the best chance of all
fell to Fenemore when Adam Dale's free kick found
him at the far post, but his header went back
across the face of goal and wide, and Tring had
to settle for the point. |
|
| Witham Town:
1. Chris Kriehn, 2. Darren Hawes, 3. Russell
Tanner, 4. Justin Pearce, 5. Paul Knight, 6. Nick Emery,
7. Paul Gibbens, 8. Simon Roberts, 9. Shane Addington,
10. Ben Lawson, 11. Tony Walkin. Subs: 12. Dean Harding,
14. Matt Parker (for D.Hawes 82 mins), 15. Kevin Hawes
(for Emery 76 mins), 16. Gino Defeo. Tring
Town: 1. Lee Turney, 2. Luke Reid, 3. Jack
Copson, 4. Adam Dale, 5. Brian Johnson, 6. Gary
Donaldson, 7. Dennis Fenemore, 8. Kevin Chakaodza, 9.
Dave Butler, 10. Alex Kinsley, 11. Wayne Barber. Subs:
12. Steve Groves, 14. Dave Watson , 15. Jay Marshall, 16.
Dean Hutchinson.
Bookings:
56 mins - Witham - Addington (strong challenge on keeper)
Referee:
Melvin Pateman
Attendance:
56
|