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Sat 6th Mar 2010
League
Sponsored by Ray Brimson
TAFC First team 0-1 Harefield United
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After building up a head of steam with 4 straight wins our title aspirations were jolted 15 minutes from time when an avoidable goal condemned us to defeat. However, our promotion hopes are far from derailed as we still remain in second place with plenty of points still up for grabs.
After being without a game for two weeks we were a bit rusty and it showed in our performance as we lacked our usual sharpness. It was perhaps a bit unfortunate that after this enforced break we should come up against fourth placed Harefield United who were on a good run of form with five successive victories leading up to this game.
This was a cagey game which neither team wanted to lose and although the visitors edged the game there were few genuine chances and little to choose between the sides. It looked like it was heading for a 0-0 when a moment of foolishness changed a throw on to a free kick from which Harefield profited.
Harefield started positively and from a corner in the fourth minute Mike Underwood was forced to punch clear a header from Alex Brown. We took a while to get going but in the 12th minute Ashley Addison charged down the keeper’s clearance and Vinnie Iannone nearly capitalising on this mistake. Soon afterwards the same two combined again this time Vinnie volleyed Ashley’s corner over the bar.
There was some good football being played but both sides worked hard to keep goal scoring opportunities down to a minimum. Adam Wells did well to get a cross over to the far post where Jack Reader tried to head the ball back across goal into the danger area but instead he ball went over the bar. Harefield’s Danny Buckle got his head to a free kick to force Mike Underwood into a flying save.
Ashley Addison fired a long range free kick wide of the goal and Jack Reader latched onto a long clearance but his first time shot was easily saved by Mike Underwood. David Salmon made some good runs down the right but the resulting crosses failed to trouble the Harefield defence. Ron Duncan nearly had more success on the other flank in added time at the end of the first half when his cross to the far post was met by a fierce shot from Tony Fields but it went wide. A close half finished 0-0.
Halt Time: Tring Athletic 0 Harefield United 0
We nearly made a dream start when the visitor’s keeper Charlie Miller just beat Vinnie Iannone to a Danny Gray cross after only 26 seconds from the restart. Harefield enjoyed more possession and were pressing for a goal when they were awarded a free kick for handball in a dangerous position just outside the area. Fortunately for us Craig Totton’s effort was dealt with confidently by Mike Underwood. Just past the hour mark Harefield had men over in the home area but we managed to scramble the ball clear. From the corner Alex Brown headed goalwards and from close range Ben Cowen put the ball over the bar.
It was hard to see where a break through would come from but in the 75th minute we shot ourselves in the foot with a moment of stupidity. With the ball going out for a harmless throw the Referee rightly changed it to a free kick for an unnecessary off the ball incident. This gave the visitors the chance to sling the ball into the area and when the ball fell to Jack Reader he tucked a shot just inside the post for the important break through.
We piled on the pressure in the last 10 minutes to try and rescue at least a draw and we put the visitor’s defence under real pressure for the first time in the game. Vinnie Iannone, Darren Franklin and Graham Hall all went close but Harefield held out for a good win.
Full Time: Tring Athletic 0 Harefield United 1
This was a disappointing result especially with leaders Chalfont St Peter winning 5-1 at home to Hillingdon Borough which extended their lead at the top to eight points although we have two games in hand. Third placed Aylesbury closed the gap on us to two points with a game in hand after their 1-1 draw at St Margaretsbury. With bottom of the table Welwyn Garden City due at The Grass Roots Stadium on Tuesday night we need to shake this performance out of our system and get back on track for the title.
Teams:
TA: Mike Underwood, David Salmon, Rob Duncan, Graham Hall (Capt), Steve Smith, Henry Thomas, Tony Fields (Darren Franklin 79), Chris Salmon, Vinnie Iannone, Ashley Addison (Mark Burfoot 63), Danny Gray (David Whicker 69). Sub not used: Brett Court, Dave Adamson.
HU: Charlie Miller, Luke Eldridge, Jermaine Queensbourh, Alex Brown (Capt), Warren Gladdy, Murray Williamson, Adam Willis, Danny Buckle, Ben Cowens (Denver Morris 67), Jack Reader (Kemo Maphela 84), Craig Totton. Sub not used: Jamie Houliston.
Goals:
TA: -
HU: Jack Reader (75)
Crowd: 97
HU Website: www.harefieldunited.co.uk |
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