Shefford 2 - 3 Tring Athletic FC

We learnt during the week to our cost that to win games you have to take your chances, and it’s pleasing to see that we did just that at Shefford – running out 3-2 winners. This was a very good team performance that saw us dominate large phases of the game. In reality, the win should have been far more convincing and the quality of football warranted another couple of goals in all honesty.
Tring started the game very much on the front foot, dominating the midfield with Ben causing chaos with the home defence. We forced a number of half chances and corners in the opening period and, just when memories of Potton were surfacing, Ben cut in from the right, beat his marker and rifled a shot in off the post on 11 minutes

Ben came close again 3 minutes later, this time cutting in from the left flank – it was almost a carbon copy move to the first goal, except the Shefford keeper made an excellent save. He was called in to action once again on 27mins when Frankie was put through but the keeper made another excellent save. A second goal seemed inevitable given the pressure we were applying, and Meadie duly delivered on 35mins – expertly converting an excellent cross from Ben. Half time 2-0 Tring – would that be enough?

The second half started in pretty much the same fashion, with Franke coming close with his shot going over the bar. We failed to convert further chances and Shefford worked exceptionally hard to get a foothold in the game. Their reward was a penalty in on 56mins, but Gould in the Tring goal made a wonder save.

Any relief the Shefford defence showed at the departure of Ben, was replace with concern as his replacement Godlove made his way on to the pitch. Godlove definitely took up where Ben left off, terrorising the home defence. On 80 minutes Godlove picked up the ball wide on the right, went on a mazy run before applying a very neat finish under the goalkeeper. 3-0 Tring – surely this would be enough?

To be fair to Shefford, they continued to work hard to get back in the game and, for the first time in the game, started to create real problems for our defence. They earned another penalty on 83mins – this time very well converted. This seems to put wind in our opponents sails, and take it out of ours. Shefford now sensed that an unlikely draw might just be possible and continued to press. On 85mins a period of pressure resulted in a fine shot across goal which was unfortunately converted by the Tring defender as he slid in to clear – not much he could have done really. Now panic really did start to set in set in both on and off the pitch. Shefford now really started to believe.

It appeared that the referee and a similar timepiece to the ref at Potton and the added on time seemed endless. It was with great relief the that the final whistle went. 3-2 Tring at FT.

The team played some exceptionally good football, and effort and teamwork were first rate. On this form we should fancy our chances against anyone in the league. However the frailty at the very end was a worry and could have cost us dear. That shouldn’t detract from what was a very, very good performance. Onwards!

Team: Gould, Cornick, Sawyer, Deer, F.Hercules, Jones, Kakimbo, Hearn, O’Connor, Mead, Shepherd. Sub: Butler, Harvey, M.Hercules, Carbery, Oppong.