23/2/99: St Mary's Cup Quarter Final
Tring Town 4 Leverstock Green 2 (aet 90 mins 2-2)
The stage is set for the first ever 'Battle of Tring' after Tring Town overcame Leverstock Green to set up a semi-final clash with neighbours Tring Athletic. They required extra-time, although the match should have been killed off long before that was necessary.
Tring got off to a bad start when they conceded a penalty after only five minutes for a push inside the area. Ray Jeffrey converted the spot kick to put the visitors in front.
On 20 minutes Matt Condon headed just over the bar from Dave Kearney's cross, and on 33 minutes Darnell St John's long-range cross struck the Green bar, although it was not a good half for Tring as they struggled to create chances despite having the bulk of possession.
At half-time the ineffective Wesley Morrey was replaced by Ben Williams, and it reaped instant reward as Tring equalised in the opening minute of the second half. Williams chased a long ball over the top and put pressure on keeper Billy Davies, forcing him into a mistake. Gavin Hart followed up to net the loose ball.
On 56 minutes Williams had a great chance to put Tring in front but shot wide from close range, and on 65 minutes Williams was clean through but had his shot saved by Davies. On 74 minutes Williams broke clear again, but this time he squared for Steve Hale, who slotted the ball home to put Tring in front.
Tring squandered several more chances to put the game away and were punished for their profligacy two minutes from time. Michael Twelves got in behind the Tring defence to lift a shot over Keith McLoughlin. Adam Dale had time to clear off the line, but somehow failed to do it, and former Tring player Anthony Beamish pounced on the loose ball to net the equaliser and send the match into extra time.
Five minutes into the first period Liam Campbell floated a free kick to the far post. Paul Turner headed the ball back across goal where any one of three Tring players could have scored, but it looked like Darnell St John who got the decisive touch to put Tring back in front. Three minutes from the end of the first period Tring opened up a two-goal cushion for the first time. Gavin Hart got clear down the right and sent over a cross which a defender tried to clear, but failed, leaving Hale on his own to calmly slot into the corner of the net.
Green fought back strongly in the second period but this time Tring held firm, and even managed to miss a few more good chances on the break.
Team: McLoughlin, Dale, Condon, Campbell, Crofts, Bray, Hart, Kearney (St John), Hale, Morrey (Williams), Turner.