6/3//99: Ryman League Division Three
Tring Town 0 Wingate & Finchley 4
Tring's current defensive frailties were clear for all to see. Missing both Paul Turner through injury and Liam Campbell through suspension, they fell to their worst defeat so far under Dennis Bainborough.
Tring started the game brightly and had the first chance of the game after 5 minutes when Steve Hale hit an inviting ball across the face of goal but nobody got the vital touch.
Two minutes later Tring were behind from Wingate's first attack of the match. Tim Becker blocked a clearance from Adam Dale and ran clear before crossing from the right. Keith McLoughlin couldn't hold the cross and Ben Strevens netted the loose ball.
Tring continued the have the better of things, with Hale volleying just over the bar from Steve Bainborough's cross on 10 minutes. On 27 minutes Ben Williams got on the end of a through pass but hit his shot inches wide with the keeper advancing.
However, on 33 minutes Tring conceded another goal against the run of play. The talented teenager Strevens, who will be playing for Barnet next season, produced some trickery on the edge of the box before shooting home the second goal.
Tring reorganised at half time but their plans were dashed within 25 seconds of the restart. A cross found Geoff Sawyer with acres of space inside the box and he made no mistake with the finish to make it 3-0 to the visitors.
Tring continued to create chances. On 49 minutes Hale slid in to connect with a Bainborough cross but somehow managed to send the ball over the gaping net from six yards out. On 57 minutes Hale's first time shot from a near post corner was well saved by the keeper.
However, on 62 minutes Wingate added a fourth that had an element of luck in it. Matt Condon's headed clearance rebounded of the back of his team-mate Dave Kearney, and the ball dropped for Strevens, who spotted McLoughlin off his line and lobbed him from 30 yards to complete his hat-trick and end the game as a contest.
Team: McLoughlin, Bainborough, Dale (McKane), Kearney, Condon, Bray (McGuire), Hart, Crofts, Hale, Williams, St John.