13/3/99: Ryman League Division Three
Tilbury 2 Tring Town 1
Tring continue to prop up the Division Three table after their fourth successive league defeat against a Tilbury side who played for much of the game with ten men.
Tring had Liam Campbell and Paul Turner back in defence, but were missing striker Steve Hale through injury and consequently looked lightweight up front. Tring fell behind after just ten minutes to the ultimate 'route one' goal. Tilbury 'keeper James Nicholls' goal kick found striker Steve Harrison who had been left completely unattended by the Tring defence, and Harrison ran clear to score at the second attempt after Keith McLoughlin had blocked his first shot.
There was little other action of note in the half until Tring finally showed signs of life in the closing minutes. A pass from Paul Turner put Ben Williams through, but his shot was saved by Nicholls, and Williams put the rebound wide. Seconds before the whistle a long-range free kick from Adam Dale brought another good save out of Nicholls.
Tring made a brighter opening to the second half, but gave themselves an uphill struggle by conceding another sloppy goal on 51 minutes. A Tilbury corner was headed down, and as Tring struggled to clear the ball but failed, Del Francois forced the ball over the line to put Tilbury 2-0 in the lead.
Within two minutes, though, Tring were back in the game. Steven Bainborough exchanged passes with Gavin Hart before threading the ball through to Williams, who this time steered his shot wide of the keeper but inside the post for his first goal in a Tring shirt.
On 61 minutes the home side were reduced to ten men when Jay Izzet was sent off for kicking out at a Tring player in view of one of the assistant referees. However, Tring could not make their advantage count, despite two very good chances coming their way. On 70 minutes substitute Craig Foster was clean through on the keeper and not flagged despite looking yards offside, but he hit his shot straight at the keeper. Five minutes from the end Tilbury 'keeper Nicholls made a blunder when he miskicked a clearance straight to Ben McGuire inside the area, but the youngster could not control the ball quickly enough to take advantage of the empty net. In the end it was another disappointment for Tring.
Team: McLoughlin, Bainborough, Turner, Campbell, Condon, Kearney, Hart, Dale (McKane), Williams (McGuire), Crofts, St John (Foster).