6/2/99: Ryman League Division Three
Tring Town 1 Ford United 3
Tring suffered another defeat, but against probably the strongest side they will face all season. Ford's efficient no-nonsense style took them to the First Round of the FA Cup and the last 32 of the FA Vase, so Dennis Bainborough's side were always going to be up against it.
Tring made a good start to the game, and Jimmy Crofts hit a shot just wide in the opening minutes. However, in the 4th minute Tring conceded the first of three poor goals. From a corner, Ricky Fletcher's glancing header bulleted into his own net.
Tring almost equalised two minutes later when Dave Kearney ran onto a chipped pass and flicked the ball just wide, but from then on the visitors dominated and missed a string of good chances. Keith McLoughlin produced a point-blank save to deny Lee Parish on 15 minutes, and on 22 minutes Jay Devereux missed an open goal at the far post after the ball had come across the face of goal.
The pattern continued in the second half, and on 52 minutes McLoughlin produced another outstanding save to deny Jeff Wood after he had beaten Liam Campbell to go clean through. However, from the resulting corner Tring could not clear, and in the ensuing scramble Wood got the crucial touch to score the second goal.
Tring tried to fight back, with Gary Bray hitting a free kick just over the bar on 65 minutes, and Fletcher shooting over after a mazy run on 71 minutes.
However, four minutes later the game was put beyond Tring. McLoughlin came out of his area to clear, but hit the ball against the oncoming attacker, who crossed towards the empty goal. Paul Turner found himself alone against three Ford players, and Parish got the touch to make it 3-0.
Tring then had their best spell of the match, with Gavin Hart and Fletcher both going close. Wesley Morrey had the best chance on 85 minutes when he was clean through but hit a dreadful effort over the bar. Finally Tring got a consolation goal with virtually the last kick of the game, when Campbell's outstretched leg pulled the ball back from the bye-line for Steve Hale to fire home from close range.
Team: McLoughlin, Bainborough (St John), Turner, Campbell, Crofts, Bray, Hart, Dale (Condon), Hale, Fletcher, Kearney (Morrey).