1-1 draw vs. Wallingford 14th Feb

Tring 3rds set off on the long trip to Wallingford knowing a tough game was in store. Wallingford lay 4th in the table and Tring had several players missing. Several members of the 4th team were called up to attempt to fill the boots of players of the calibre of David ‘The One-armed Bandit’ Bonner, Dan ‘Air-Shot’ Thompson and Fraser ‘Killer’ Cunningham who were all off pursuing romantic interests (possibly together).

Tring started well, forcing back their more experienced opponents, several short corners were won in quick succession, Fergie got a shot away for the third corner which deflected off the defenders stick, looping up to young Will Holderness, his deft control and snap shot opened the scoring for Tring within the first 3 minutes of the game. Buoyed by their great start Tring pressed forward and looked likely to add a second goal, another short corner nearly gave Will his second goal, but his watching fan club (mum, Granny and Granddad) were left distraught as he couldn’t quite poke in a short corner from close range. The first half ended with Tring on top but without having added to their tally.

The second half was more even, good work down both flanks from the combined forces of Sam Highfield, Jack Doodness and Luke Brown looked set to bring reward, but Wallingford were also beginning to gain a foothold. Excellent running out from George Cooper meant that Wallingfords short corners were being stopped before they began. Tring then decided to implode. Gary Arthurs got a talking to from the umpire (no prizes for guessing what for) swiftly followed by Dave Ferguson getting a green for the same offence. Not wanting to be left out Nick Wallinger decided to follow suit, earning him a yellow for suggesting the umpire indulged in certain acts of self-abuse (Nick has asked me to say that the umpire’s decision was wrong which led to the short corner and subsequent expletive). Down to ten and in some disarray at the short corner Wallingford duly equalised with another slow bobbling shot of the type which seems to confuse Bess!

A slight re-organisation saw captain Holman take Nicks place at right back, from this position he launched a counter-attack, moving to the half-way line he released Sam Highfield, he in turn moved the ball to Gary Arthurs who managed to find the keeper in the way of his otherwise goal-bound shot. The final result was 1-1, and a mostly good performance from the team.