2/10/99: Ryman League Division Three

Tring Town 1 Bracknell Town 0

Tring Town are off the bottom of the Ryman League at last, and on this evidence they won't be back there in a hurry. Like Dorking two weeks ago, Bracknell came to Pendley with an unbeaten record and left with nothing. Mick Vipond paraded his two new signings Steve Bateman and Marcus Davis, and it was the latter who came off the bench to win the game for Tring.

From the start the game was very evenly poised, and the two teams seemed to cancel each other out during a first half that was long on effort but short on chances. Matt Rawdon came closest for Tring on ten minutes when he turned and shot from close range, but his effort went straight at the keeper. Bateman scarcely put a foot wrong, and alongside the ever-improving Paul Aldridge forms a central defensive partnership that will be the envy of the division.

The second half continued in similar vein, although the visitors soon began to get the upper hand. On 52 minutes Tring had a let-off when Gary Holzman rose unmarked at the far post but headed wide. Three minutes later the ball broke for Mark Tallentire on the edge of the area, and he struck a tremendous shot that was heading straight for the top corner. Tallentire had already begun to turn away in celebration before Tring keeper Keith McLoughlin marked his 100th appearance for the club with a magnificent save, diving to his right to turn the ball round one-handed.

Dave Osgood missed another good chance four minutes later when he headed over from a near-post corner, and a heroic goal-line clearance from Mark Underwood left him knocked out for a short time.

The introduction of the former Leverstock Green and Berkhamsted Town forward Davis with 20 minutes left brought Tring back into the game. On 79 minutes a pass from Rawdon set Davis clear, and after a weaving run his shot was deflected wide. Two minutes later Davis battled to the goal-line and put over a cross that the keeper fumbled, but nobody was on hand to convert the rebound.

It looked like the game would end in an honourable draw until three minutes from time. A ball over the top from Underwood found Davis onside and running clear. Despite the efforts of two defenders to pull him down, Davis ran on to slot the ball past the keeper to the obvious delight of the Tring faithful.

Possession football over the closing minutes ensured there was no threat to the lead, and the win moves Tring three places up the table.

Team: McLoughlin, Underwood, Turner, Bateman, Aldridge, Dale, Gerrard, McKane, Rawdon, Gladdy (Davis), Groves. Subs not used: Godbold, Simpson