Tring Athletic 0 - 1 Leverstock Green

OUR SEASON COMES TO AN END

A goal midway through the second half was enough for our guests Leverstock Green to gain revenge for the 1-0 League defeat we inflicted on them 4 days earlier at Pancake Lane and book their place in the final of the St Marys Cup. Green have some big matches coming up and we wish their all the best for those games.

The encounter on Tuesday night was a turgid affair but this was a much better game although there were the usual tetchy aspects and vocal celebrations you would expect from a local derby. Within less than 2 minutes played Dave O’Conner was denied a goal when his header from George Carbery’s free kick was brilliantly tipped away against the post by keeper Josh Bowler. Our opponents soon replied with Rawn Seale smashing a shot over the bar from a good position.

With a number of key players missing through injury we had to change our side around but we defended well with Frankie Hercules showing the other side of his game by putting in a sterling defensive shift with headed clearances and important tackles in the box!!

A slick move from Green in the 27th minute presented Dan Pett with an opening but fortunately for us his shot went straight into the arms of Dan Gould. Our opponents enjoyed more possession during this first period with Rawn Seale getting a touch to a cross which hit the post and bounced away to safety.

An entertaining and even first half, with both sides hitting the woodwork, ended all square. HT Score 0-0.

We kicked off the second half strongly with Max Hercules well struck shot forcing a terrific save from Josh Bowler who had to adjust his feet quickly after the ball was deflected. From the resulting corner Ryan Sharkey header came back off the keeper with Ryan then firing the loose ball over from close range.

As with many games between ourselves and Green the first goal is crucial and that honour fell to our opponents in the 71st minute when Dan Pett’s close range header was superbly saved by Dan Goud but the Green midfielder managed to head the loose ball into the net. Score 0-1.

We made changes and pressed forward with Ben Kakembo firing 2 presentable chances wide but 7minutes into added time Harry Shepherd, who has scored a couple of terrific goals lately, had the chance to level the score but his effort went just wide of the post. FT Score 0-1.

The defeat was disappointing but we must not lose sight of the terrific improvements we have made since the turn of the year suffering just 7 defeats from 28 League and Cup games. In the last 9 games we kept 7 clean sheets with only Champions Real Bedford and Green in this game breaching our defence. Another stat of interest is that we took points off all the teams who finished above us (including St Pantelimon who folded) apart MK Irish. In addition we also lifted the Herts Charity Shield after a thumping 4-0 victory over Oxhey Jets for the 4th time in the club's history.

Back in early January we were 13th in the table and a long way behind the leading teams but we finished the season a credible 6th in the table only two points off a playoff place. Ryan Sturges and his coaching team can take full credit for this success and for having the courage to blood in youngsters from our U23's, who have done well this season, and from our incredible U18 Team who won the League title by a mile and at the present time have yet to lose a League game (they still have 2 games to play). There was also their amazing run in the FA Youth Cup eventually going out to Leyton Orient when a win would have seen them play Newcastle United away.

Another up and coming youngster Bailey Osborne from our U23's (he is the 15th teenager to play for the First Team this season) made his debut in this game and with a conveyor belt of youngsters to come through the future looks bright for the club.

Team:

TA: Dan Gould, George Carbery (Capt), Harry Jones (Charlie Bradshaw 81), Dave O’Conner, Ryan Sharkey, Jack Harvey, Harry Shepherd, Harrison Mead (Noah Butler 66), Frankie Hercules, Bailey Osborne (Ben Kakembo 59), Max Hercules.

SCORER

LG: Dan Pett (71)

Crowd: 121