7 March, V Eastcote, 3-1 win,

This was a game that had to be viewed as a relegation 6-pointer, Tring starting the day in 9th were playing 10th placed Eastcote who were 4 points below them at the start of the day. Tring needed a win to keep them from being dragged into a 3 way scrap for the second relegation spot (Abingdon having pretty much already booked their place in division 7). Earlier in the season the points had been shared in a 2-2 draw. The Eastcote team looked pretty different to the one we had played back in November and we hoped this wasn't a sign of 'ringers' being drafted in to halt Eastcote's alarming slide (every game lost since Christmas).

Tring started in a positive fashion, with quick passing and good movement, the formation was being held well and we were causing Eastcote problems. As the half wore on Tring continued to dominate, several chances were passed up including a great swing and miss by Luke Brown. Mid-way through the half Captain Holman had seen enough and striding purposefully to the top of the D he pounced on mistake by the Eastcote defence and slotted a first time strike to the keeper's right to take a 1-0 lead. Tring continued to take the game to Eastcote and this positivity paid off 5 minutes later as Tring converted a short corner through a relatively simple routine. Arik swept the ball out to Fergie, his strike was creeping wide but Arik had run to the post to glance the ball past the static defender. Tring went in two nil up at half time.

The second half saw Eastcote step up their game to try and gain a toehold in the match. Tring had shuffled the side at half time and for a while looked slightly disjointed. Eastcote grabbed a goal as their striker converted at the second attempt after a good initial save from Bess. Tring shuffled players again and managed to avert any nerves with a great third goal. Fergie played the ball out left to Luke Brown, he passed back in to the middle to Arik leaving him one on one with the keeper who had come quickly off his line, Arik kept his cool to lift it over him and into the back of the net for his second goal. The rest of the game saw Tring's defence in the ascendancy and the final score remained 3-1. Tring stayed in 9th but in this ever tight division are now only 3 points off 4th place.