Colney Heath 2-4 Tring Athletic

WINNING STREAK EXTENDS TO FIVE GAMES

The games are coming thick and fast with our 5th game in 18 days and reassuringly our 5th consecutive victory which has pushed us up to 4th in the table. Many of us long in the tooth Athletic supporters would have viewed this game with some trepidation because our record at Colney Heath has been very poor with just five victories in 24 visits.

We did win 1-0 at home back in August with a goal from Giuseppe Delgaudio but before that we had lost 5 consecutive games. Our last victory there was on the last day of the 2016/17 season which saw us run out 2-1 winners with goals from James Butler and Chris Vardy, a result that cliched 5th place in the final table. Interestingly included in the team that day was George Carbery and Ollie Butler as well as a certain Ryan Sturges.

We couldn’t have started the game any better with Harrison Cornick glancing home from the near post a well taken corner from set piece specialist Frankie Hercules. Score 0-1.

We then went on to dominate the game taking every opportunity of the good playing surface to stroke the ball around and keep possession. In the 17th minute a terrific move involving Frankie Hercules gave Harrison Mead an opportunity to shoot and the youngster took full advantage to beat the keeper from outside the area. Score 0-2.

Chances came and went with probably the best falling to Godlove Oppong after great play by Eli Hearn but we were denied a 3rd goal by a superb save from the keeper. We were totally dominant but were rocked in the 34th minute when Karmel El-Maghur headed home a cross to pull a goal back for our hosts. Score 1-2.

We reached half time with a one goal advantage which seemed a very poor return for the quality of football we played and the opportunities we created. HT Score 1-2.

The next goal was going to be crucial and unfortunately for us our hosts equalised 5 minutes into the second half when Deondre Pascoe scored from a corner. Score 2-2.

Buoyed up by the equaliser Colney Heath looked a completely different outfit from the first half and they played some great football and looked far more menacing and Oscar Frost was forced into making a couple of very good saves.

We were still dangerous going forward with Harry Shepherd cracking a 30 yarder against his old team which the keeper did well to save and from the resulting corner Greg Deer shot over when well placed at the back post. Harrison Cornick then joined in with another long range effort which the keeper tipped round the post.

The game was still finely balanced but we pushed our noses in front in the 67th minute when Harrison Cornick capped a fine game with his second headed goal from a corner. Score 2-3.

We sealed the victory with a 4th goal from Davide Pobbe who had only come off the bench a minute earlier. The goalie had saved a shot but couldn’t keep hold of the ball and Davide tapped home from close range. FT Score 2-4.

In the end the game turned out to be tougher than we would have expected after being well on top and holding a 2 goal lead. But full marks to our opponents who kept going until the end and made life difficult for us in the second half. With more performances like they produced in the second half they will surely climb away from the relegation zone.

Another good result for us and we showed that we can play good football but also we can roll up our sleeves and compete when we have to. On Saturday we face another stiff challenge when we visit Leighton Town for a Premier Division game.

Finally it was great to see Charlie Miller back in action after a period out injured.

Team: O Frost, E Hearn, A Sawyer, G Deer, H Cornick, F Hercules, H Mead (D Pobbe 81), G Carbery (Capt) (C Miller 71), H Shepherd, A Mannion (E Goulding 62), G Oppong. Subs not use: L Armstrong

Goals: H Cornick (4, 67), H Mead (17), D Pobbe (82)

Crowd: 89