Tring Athletic Reserves 0-1 Westfield Reserves
On the first autumnal day of the season which deteriorated as it went on a combination of under par performances, a small number of poor decisions, missed chances and a a couple of dubious decisions from the officials turned what was probably a deserved draw into a defeat.

Opponents Westfield, another first for Tring Ath, were in fairness as good a team as we've played this season. We started well knocking decent passes into our wide men and generally playing on the front foot.

As the game settled Westfield played some tidy football in midfield and used their front 3 well. After 20 mins the defensive cover in front of our back 3 failed and their centre forward having pinned James Shaw turned and finished neatly.

Although lacking a bit of quality there was no lack of effort and a number of corners and crosses put pressure on our opponents and resulted in a good chance for George House who unfortunately missed the target.

The game was played at a decent pace with the teams going toe to toe without too many clear chances.

Some reminders at half time and the fact we were playing down the slope resulted in us starting to get on top, aided by changes in personnel. Gareth Terblanche who moved out wide on the left hand side put in a number of excellent balls which narrowly avoided our attackers.

The longer the half went the more we pinned Westfield back and another sub Ollie Ruttle had 2 good chances one of which should have resulted in an equaliser.

A free kick on the edge of the area came to nothing and with 5 mins remaining what looked like a stonewall penalty was not awarded. Westfield hit us on the break and but for for 3 quality saves by Luke Priestley they would have been out of site but we were determined to die with our boots on and with the very last kick of the game the ball hit Scott Henderson and somehow ballooned over the bar to deny a well earned point.

Maybe in the long run this may be a turning point when we realise we have to get 5% & 10% that make the difference right but as ever cannot fault effort and commitment.
L.Priestley. M.Stacey J.Shaw(W.Mullarkey) G.TerblancheC.Blake R.Hazel (J.Smith)T.Paul (E.Anderson) J.Sunderland( O.Ruttle) G.House (F.Hercules)J.Naylor S.Henderson

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