WE PICK UP VALUABLE POINTS

A Max Hercules free kick gave Athletic the lead on 60 minutes before we conceded a 90th minute equaliser. Luke Dunstan then hit an injury time winner to clinch an excellent 3 points

Team: Lewis Todd, Jack Sunderland, Connor Church, Mark Riddick, James Butler, Joe Fitzgerald, Max Hercules, Sam Joliffe (Capt), Chris Vardy (George Carbery 70), Jack Read (Tommy Twelves 78), Luke Dunstan.

Report from Biggleswade FC WEBSITE-

Biggleswade FC suffered back-to-back defeats for only the second time in their short history, as they went down 2-1 at home to Tring Athletic on Tuesday evening.

After having no game on Saturday, Dave Northfield and Mark Inskip's side were looking to bounce back from a 1-0 reverse against Colney Heath last time out. They were going to have to do it without influential duo Tom Cookman and Pat McCafferty though, who started three and two-game suspensions respectively.

The early signs were promising as FC, playing their first game at Langford Road in over a month, set about getting on top of opponents who had lost their last three games.

The first decent move came on 8 minutes when Nathan George sent a pass forward towards front man Justin Leavers. He cushioned the ball into the path of Adam Hunt and he beat his marker before sending over a dangerous cross from the right-hand side. The ball in found Lee Northfield, but he couldn't fashion some space to get the shot away.

Biggleswade had plenty of possession in the opening exchanges as Tring seemed happy to sit in and wait for a chance to counter, but there was a lack of intensity for much of the half from the hosts. This allowed the visitors to grow in confidence. A strong run from their no 10 ended with a decent strike sailing just over.

Midway through the first half, FC had a huge let off. George Riley was robbed of possession deep in his own half, but in fairness to him it was largely down to a lack of movement in front of him This led to a one-on-one situation, but thankfully Daniel Green was up to the task, pulling off a good save after narrowing the angle.

Moments later Ryan Inskip came to life. He went for a one-two and the ball fortuitously found its way back into his path. Then from 25 yards he had the confidence to pull the trigger and the keeper did well to tip over the bar.

Biggleswade's best moment of the half came just before the half hour. A marauding run from the ever-willing skipper Adam Hunt saw him cut in from the right and pick out the intelligent run of Justin Leavers between centre half and left back. His well-struck shot on the turn was saved superbly by the Tring keeper.

After being booked for a late challenge, Leavers went close again just before the half-time whistle. Ryan Inskip and Lee Northfield combined with the latter pulling back for Leavers, who hit the side netting with a first time shot under pressure from a marker.

The home side made a bright start to the second half. Eight minutes in they had a penalty appeal turned down. A smart flick round the corner from Leavers found Ryan Inskip. His fierce shot was blocked at point-blank range - by an arm according to the players in Green in the immediate vicinity. Seconds later George Riley had a free-kick blocked, whilst Tom Coles blazed a speculative effort wide of the target.

For all the FC possession, Tring defended resolutely and broke out when they could. From one such break, they opened the scoring on the hour and what a strike it was. The pint-sized Max Hercules had proved a useful outlet with his pace down the Tring right and after winning a free-kick 25-yards out, he curled a beauty over the wall just inside the right-hand post.

Northfield and Inskip threw on two returning faces to try and turn things around. Joel Ives came on in the middle of the park, whilst George Bailey had a runout after Biggleswade Town's game at Kings Langley was postponed. Bailey was immediately in the thick of things, sending over a good cross which forced a strong punch from the Tring keeper.

Tom Coles then had a half-chance, getting on the end of a Ryan Inskip free-kick, but he couldn't get enough on it as he stretched to meet the ball on the half-volley. FC were running out of ideas and Lee Northfield compounded the frustrations picking up a yellow card for a late challenge.

With the home side heading for a second successive blank in front of goal, George Bailey conjured up a moment of class to haul Biggleswade level. A hopeful ball forward for once wasn't met with the head of a Tring centre-half and Bailey made something out of nothing, controlling and shooting on the turn in one movement to wrong-foot the Tring keeper.

A couple of minutes injury time still remained, so the home side were harbouring hopes of snatching a winner in the dying moments. However, they hadn't bargained on a sucker punch from their opponents at the other end.
FC gave the ball away cheaply and it was Tring who went for the jugular. A neat give-and-go left Luke Dunstan darting between two defenders with the goal at his mercy. He didn't pass up the opportunity and took it well with a low finish into the bottom corner, sending the travelling players and supporters into raptures.

There was still time for Biggleswade to push for another equaliser, forcing a decent low stop from the Tring keeper, but it wasn't to be and they go into Thursday's Semi-Final by increasing their winless run to three games.

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