21/8/99: Ryman League Division Three

Croydon Athletic 3 Tring Town 0

Tring's mini-revival came to an end in last night's visit to Croydon Athletic, although a battling defensive performance ensured there was no repeat of last season's nine-goal humiliation.

The home side's speedy attacking play had Tring under the cosh from the first whistle, but excellent goalkeeping from Keith McLoughlin and stout defensive play, particularly from the outstanding Paul Aldridge, kept them out in the early stages. A single lapse in concentration allowed Croydon to take the lead in the 18^th minute when Paul Baines received a cross from the right and had the time and space to control the ball and shoot home.

Tring managed to create a few half-chances of their own towards the end of the half, and the clearest one came two minutes before the break when Matt Rawdon squared the ball to set up Steve Groves, but the keeper got down well to save his shot.

Tring were much more in the game in the early stages of the second half, and had another great chance when flick-ons from Rawdon and Wayne Gladdy put Groves through on goal, but his attempted lob over the keeper also cleared the bar.

Two defensive blunders in quick succession midway through the half put the game beyond Tring's reach. The first on 64 minutes left Aldridge and Mark Underwood facing two attackers, and although a challenge from Underwood held up the attack, Tring could not clear the ball and it fell for John Fowler to shoot home the second. Three minutes later Paul Turner gave the ball away inside his own half, leaving Baines to burst through and slot home the third.

Team: McLoughlin, Underwood, Simpson, Turner, Aldridge, Dale, Gerrard, McKane (Sangster), Rawdon, Gladdy (Godbold), Groves.