17/4/99: Ryman League Division Three
Dorking 3 Tring Town 0
Only two weeks left until Tring's season of hell is over, and on this evidence it cannot come too quickly. Tring's chances of finishing outside the bottom two all but disappeared in a game they finished with only nine men.
The home side had the Tring goal under pressure from the start, and had several chances to take an early lead. On 4 minutes a poor defensive header from Matt Condon was intercepted by Stuart White, but with only Lee Brown to beat he shot weakly straight at the Tring keeper. On 11 minutes Andrew Moses headed over the bar from close range.
Tring's problems started in earnest on 25 minutes when Darnell St John was involved in a minor clash with a Dorking player. St John shrugged off the opponent's offer of a handshake and for this was shown the red card by referee Mark Wyvill.
Five minutes later Tring put themselves in trouble when Adam Dale was caught in possession inside his own half. The result was a cross from Steve Miles which was headed in by Steven Gillett.
Tring's best spell came early in the second half, although they failed to carve out a serious chance. At the other end Lee Brown had to produce an acrobatic save to tip over a free kick from John Edward on 52 minutes.
Tring's troubles increased on 67 minutes when Andrew Moses' solo run into the box was ended by a foul challenge. Edward scored the penalty to put Dorking 2-0 up.
Things got worse on 75 minutes. Liam Campbell was on the end of a bad challenge which was not penalised. While being treated, Campbell voiced his displeasure to Mr Wyvill, for which he was shown the yellow card. A further comment from Campbell then turned the card to red.
A minute later a ball was played over the top into the hole where Campbell would have been, leaving Moses a clear run on goal. Shrugging off Andy Wells' attempts to pull him back, Moses ran on to score the goal that created another piece of unwanted history. For the first time in their 22-year Isthmian League career, Tring had conceded 100 league goals. Wells was booked after the goal and can probably consider himself lucky not to have joined St John and Campbell in the early bath.
Tring's nine men at least dug in after that to prevent any further goals, despite their goal being under siege.
Team; Brown, Bainborough, Lewis, Campbell, Condon, Dale, St John, McKane, Williams (Morrey), Foster (Wells), Kearney (Crofts).