24/10/98:Ryman League Division Three
Wingate & Finchley 2 Tring Town 1
Tring have had to endure a number of disappointments this season but none have been harder to swallow than this one. Denied a blatant penalty three minutes from time, they were then hit by a last second winner that meant they came away with nothing from their best performance of the season so far.
Conditions were difficult from the outset due to the surface water and they did not improve, but they did act as a leveller between two sides at opposite ends of the division. Tring had the first chance on 14 minutes when Colin Jones shot across the face of goal, and Jason Evans slid in at the far post, but his effort was blocked. On 20 minutes Wingate's Andy Myers headed inches wide from a corner. On 24 minutes a long-range free kick from Tring's Adam Dale was fumbled by the keeper but nobody was following up. Keith McLoughlin produced a great save on 26 minutes to deny Richard Baum when he was clean through, and the same player was unlucky on 33 minutes when his curling shot struck the Tring bar.
When Tring took the lead on 38 minutes it came somewhat out of nothing. Roger Jashek's cross-cum-shot from near the right touchline deceived the keeper and went in off the far post without a touch from anyone else.
However, Tring could not hold their lead until the break. On 44 minutes Wingate won a free kick just outside the box, and although Ben Strevens' effort was blocked by the wall, Danny Piler followed up to shoot home the rebound.
In the second half the rain got even heavier, and the Tring half in particular was virtually unplayable due to the amount of surface water. However both sides continued to play their part in an entertaining match.
Tring were seeing more possession than in any previous match this season, and should have gone back in front on 58 minutes. Victor Scott broke clear but his shot was saved by the keeper. Rob McKane followed up, but as he turned away to celebrate his shot came back off the inside of the post.
The controversy started three minutes from time, as Tring launched a quick counter-attack after a Wingate pass stopped dead in the water well short of its intended target. Adam Dale got there first and sent a long ball over the top to put Tring's young substitute Wayne Gladdy clean through. Gladdy showed good speed and control to run with the ball, but as he was about to apply the finishing touch, his legs were taken away by a tackle from behind. It should have been a penalty and a red card but unbelievably the referee gave nothing.
That was galling enough, but Tring were then denied even the point that their gutsy showing more than deserved. At most, two or three minutes injury time were merited, but five had been played when Wingate's Ben Strevens went on a weaving run past Tring's tired defenders and finished with a shot that gave McLoughlin no chance. Predictably the final whistle was blown within ten seconds of the restart to leave Tring heartbroken and justifiably furious.
Team: McLoughlin, Lay, Evans, Turner, Jashek, Dale, McKane, Jones, Owen, J.Siddons, Scott (Gladdy). Subs: Greenwood, Williams.