12/12/98: Ryman League Division Three
Croydon Athletic 9 Tring Town 1
Tring's new manager (who will be announced on Monday) now knows the full scale of the task ahead of him after watching their disastrous collapse on Saturday. Tring were simply overwhelmed by a powerful attacking side who showed superb finishing.
Tring were a goal down after nine minutes when Jeff Wilkinson half-hit a shot from the edge of the area, and Simon Mitchell nipped in ahead of Keith McLoughlin to flick the ball past the keeper who was in for a torrid afternoon.
On 19 minutes it was 2-0 when John Fowler ran onto a through pass and shrugged off a challenge from Colin Jones before hitting a shot which hit the post. Fortunately for Fowler the rebound came straight back to him and he made no mistake this time.
Tring then showed brief hopes of a revival. On 26 minutes Ben Williams got clear down the right and got in a good cross, but Andy Wells' first-time shot went over the bar. Two minutes later Alex Kinsley was clean through but shot wide.
The home side finished the half on top though, going close three times before Fowler added their third goal in injury time, profiting after Tring had given the ball away on the edge of their own area.
The gaps in the middle of the Tring defence really began to open up in the second half as Croydon attacked on the ground with power and pace. On 50 minutes Fowler was the first recipient of a clear chance, reaching the ball before McLoughlin to claim his hat-trick.
However, Tring earned the reward for some bright play by their young forwards when Wayne Gladdy pulled a goal back, shooting home on 56 minutes after a skilful solo run.
Within a minute, though, it was 5-1 as Fowler exploited another huge gap through the middle to shoot past the luckless McLoughlin.
Four more goals went in over the last 15 minutes as Tring caved in. Alan Hazel came off the bench to blast home shots on 75 and 79 minutes, Mitchell added the eighth in similar fashion on 81 mins and the ninth followed soon after. Tring at least held out over the final few minutes to avoid the ignominy of double figures.
Team: McLoughlin, Lay, Turner (Gladdy), Jones, Jashek, Heywood, Dale, Siddons (Owen), Wells, Kinsley (Walsh), Williams.