27/2/99: Ryman League Division Three
Hornchurch 3 Tring Town 2
Four minutes of madness cost Tring the points at Hornchurch, as they hit the self-destruct button and conceded three goals immediately after taking the lead. The five goals all came in nine frantic second half minutes.
There was little sign on what was to come during an evenly-contested first half. Keith McLoughlin had to save a shot from Hornchurch's Chris Woolf on 7 minutes, while Tring's first chance didn't come until the 28th minute when Gavin Hart broke clear down the right and passed to Steve Hale, whose shot was palmed onto the post by the keeper. On 39 minutes Darnell St John curled a shot just over the angle, and two minutes later Dave Kearney shot just wide of the far post after a good run. Hornchurch had more of the possession but were allowed few chances.
The goal rush started on 68 minutes with one of the best goals Tring have scored all season. St John received a long-distance pass from Adam Dale just inside the area, and knocked the ball back for Kearney, who struck a perfect first-time volley that gave the keeper no chance.
However, two minutes later Kearney turned villain when he was caught in possession inside his own half. The ball was played through to Woolf, who shot home past McLoughlin from a narrow angle.
Three minutes later Tring were behind. Scott Williams, who had been well policed by Paul Turner throughout the game, finally got the beating of the young defender, and with nobody covering was able to sprint clear and fire home the second.
Within seconds of the restart Tring conceded a farcical third goal. Barely three passes had been played before Dale was caught napping by Woolf, who found himself one-on-one with McLoughlin again, and rounded the keeper before slotting home.
The folly of that goal was underlined three minutes later when Tring pulled one back. St John showed good skill with a tricky run along the edge of the area before a superb pass which set up Steve Hale to slide the ball under the keeper. However, the damage had been done and Tring could not find their way through for an equaliser.
Team: McLoughlin, Bainborough, Turner, Dale, Condon, Bray (Foster), Hart, St John, Hale, Williams (McGuire), Kearney.