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Sat 12th Sep 2009
League
Sponsored by Greg Pope & Lee Addison
TAFC First team 3-8 Colney Heath
TAFC goals: Mark Burfoot (2), Neil Roberts |
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Tring Athletic had never lost at home to Colney Heath before Saturday,but the visitors ended this run with an eight goal haul in fine weather at Pendley. The match ebbed and flowed either side of Tring keeper David Clark's penalty save with Athletic equalising three times, until the last quarter when Colney sub Aaron Clarke helped himself to four goals.
Phil Casserley's team showed five changes from the midweek cup defeat at Dunstable. Colney Heath, wearing Athletic's green away shorts having forgotten theirs, scored within the first minute. From Alex Olcot's rolled free kick, Jack Coombes shot from the edge of the box, went in off the left hand post. Tring Athletic's first attack saw Neil Roberts free kick from twenty five yards go just wide of the left post. The visitors returned to the attack and Phil Jackman's cross found the unmarked Ian Cooper who headed straight at David Clark. Later a through ball into the left hand channel released Cooper, who turned the covering Chris Salmon, but then put the good chance wide. Athletic missed a good chance to equalise when from a Colney corner, Tring broke with a three on one situation. Ashley Addison released Andy Mullins who rounded keeper Paul Daley, but his left foot was cleared by the covering Olcot. Colney then missed an even better opportunity on twenty four minutes, Cooper moving in between Matt Myatt and Henry Thomas who brought down the forward. Cooper himself took the penalty from which Tring keeper David Clark made a fine save.
The value of this save was shown within three minutes as Athletic equalised. Neil Roberts was fouled outside the area and this time the midfielders direct free kick went over the wall just inside the left hand post. Colney responded with a passage of concentrated pressure which was only halted by some inspired goalkeeping from David Clark. Firstly Cooper outpaced Chris Salmon, but the Tring keeper came out to make a great save. Then Coombes shot resulted in a Clark diving save, although later when no-one tracked the Colney captains midfield run, he shot over the bar. A diagonal free kick led to Jackman's header again saved by the overworked David Clark. It was particularly ironic that from Chris Salmons back pass, David Clark slipped over and Cooper turned on the left edge of the area to eventually convert into the empty net. However Athletic again equalised, against the run of play, just before half time when a left wing cross was headed in by Mark Burfoot.
Tring brought on Steve Smith after the interval for Matt Myatt, but it was Colney providing the first significant action of the second half, Dean Parratt shot hitting the bar and going over. Colney then similarly replaced their right back, Liam Beaumont on for Carl Ashton. Steve Smith was soon into the game with two good passes to get Tring on the attack and on the hour mark from a blocked clearance Mark Burfoot shot against the foot of a post from eight yards. David Whicker then lost midfield possession and Henry Thomas picked up a caution when nearly the last defender, in tackling the visitors forward. From the well worked free kick onto Olcot's left foot, David Clark tipped the ball over the bar. David Whicker was involved in supplying Andy Mullins with a chance but his lofted shot was off target. Colney now introduced Aaron Clarke for Phil Jackman and soon regained the lead with an attack across the width of the pitch for Dean Parratt to side foot home. After Henry Thomas headed Ashley Addison's corner down into Daley's arms, Athletic equalised for the third time. Ashley Addison's diagonal ball found Mark Burfoot and his first touch allowed him to drive left footed past Daley.
Both sides collective defending looked vunerable and it appeared that which sides was worse would lose. Colney sub Aaron Clarke then proceeded to score four goals in seventeen minutes to win the game. Whilst acknowledging his finishing, he was helped to his haul by two errant headed back passes and absent cover, despite David Clark making an initial save. By this stage Tring had lost their second sub Darren Franklin, on for Andy Mullins, to a facial injury when the ball hit the Colney bar and Vincenzo Iannone replaced him. Between the Clarke goals, Tring still had chances. David Whicker's pass picked out Tony Fields, but he was unable to do likewise for the unmarked Neil Roberts. Later Tring midfielders David Whicker and Neil Roberts combined, but Ashley Addison could not turn the chance on target. However, Tring conceded again in the final minute, Cooper twisting away from his marker and shooting under David Clark.
This result and the second half at Dunstable, when our woodwork was hit four times has obviously highlighted defending issues. Athletic were missing keeper Tom Vincent, last years Player of the Year David Salmon and midfield guardian and skipper Graham Hall amongst others. However this is basically the same squad who were good enough to win three significant trophies in a week in May and this season scored six goals without reply at Hanwell. The squad therefore have the opportunity to return to their excellent cup traditions and form in the Premier Division Cup and FA Vase this week and consign this heavy defeat to history.
TAFC: David Clark, Matt Myatt(Steve Smith 46), Rob Duncan, David Whicker, Chris Salmon(capt), Henry Thomas, Andy Mullins((Darren Franklin 70)(Vincenzo Iannone 73)), Neil Roberts, Mark Burfoot, Ashley Addison, Tony Fields. Subs not used: Jack Copson, Danny Gray.
Colney Heath: Paul Daley, Carl Ashton(Liam Beaumont 50), Alex Olcot, Callum Chittenden, Barry Dowling, Jack Coombes(capt), Kevin Ashwood, Greg Deacon, Phil Jackman(Aaron Clarke 60), Dean Parratt, Ian Cooper.Subs not used: Tom Blackman, Matt Courbold.
Goals:
TAFC: Neil Roberts 24, Mark Burfoot 44, 67
Colney Heath: Jack Coombes 1, Ian Cooper 41, 90, Dean Parratt 64, Aaron Clarke 69, 79, 82, 86
Cautions:
TAFC: Henry Thomas
Colney Heath: Jack Coombes
Referee: Don Richardson
Assistants: Lee Addison, Greg Pope
Attendance: 69 |
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Clarkie keeps us in it (temporarily)
Burf nods over the keeper (2-2: still respectable)
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