23/1/98: Ryman League Division Three
Tring Town 1 Clapton 0
Tring manager Dennis Bainborough unveiled his latest signing, striker Steve Hale, who has been a prolific scorer for Beaconsfield in the South Midlands League. It was Hale who scored the crucial second-half goal that put Tring back on the winning trail.
Tring started the match confidently, going forward with purpose but failing to create the chances they should have. Their best chance in the first half came on 27 minutes from a short corner routine. Manager's son Steven Bainborough hit the ball across the face of goal, and both Hale and Dave Kearney failed to get the vital touch that would have put the ball in the net. On 34 minutes Darnell St John struck a full-blooded first time volley from a corner, but it was blocked short of the line.
Clapton occasionally threatened on the break, but Keith McLoughlin did not have to produce any saves against his former club.
Tring had a scare in the opening minute of the second half when a bad defensive mistake left Glen Connolly alone on the edge of the area, but he shot wide.
The goal arrived on 51 minutes. Matt Condon played a ball into the box which Kearney got a curious touch to and sent it straight up in the air. As the ball came down, Hale was there first and made no mistake with a powerful volley from 10 yards to put Tring one up.
In truth there were no more chances in the second half than there were in the first, although Tring had a couple of legitimate penalty appeals turned down.
As Tring tired late in the game Clapton could have snatched at least a point. In the last minute Davey Armstong was clean through but hit his shot wide. In injury time the same player was in exactly the same position, and this time was on target but McLoughlin saved.
Team: McLoughlin, Bainborough, Condon, Campbell, St John (Williams), Bray, Hart, Dale, Hale, Crofts, Kearney (Turner).