Tue 8th Jan 2019
Challenge Cup
TAFC Development team 3-0 AFC Hayes
TAFC goals: Scott Henderson, Jack Read, Joe Naylor
Tring Athletic Res (1)3 AFC Hayes Res (0)0
With AFC Hayes losing at home to Dunstable Town last Saturday by 3-2 it was essential that we not only won but won by a margin of 2 goals or more as only the winners from the Groups go into the semi finals at a later stage.
With due respect to our opponents who battled for the entire 90 mins, we were treated to, even by our high standards to an absolute exhibition of being unable to hit the proverbial side of a bus. It would be fair to say we should have been 5 or 6 up before we finally scored through skipper Scott Henderson in the 35th minute.
Their keeper made a number of decent saves but some of the misses were hard to believe, which was a shame as playing down the slope, we played done excellent flowing football.
Up until we scored this had the potential makings of yet another narrow defeat after dominating which has blighted our season.
The half time talk was easy enough as it was only a question of carrying on as we had but always there's the fear of things going wrong. Playing up the slope we still had the upper hand and after 55 mins Ollie Ruttle ensured a feeling of some security with our 2nd.
As our opponents now had to push on to get back into the match we had a relatively poor 10/15 mins although Luke Priestley in goal was rarely troubled. Our 3rd was scored by Joe Naylor his 17th of the season to give us that little bit of necessary daylight.
I won't pick out the individual(s) who most profligate and in fairness the entire squad which included 3 of our U18s and 1 from our U17 squad were worthy and well deserved winners and more importantly 225 mins since a goal was conceded.
L.Priestley. W.Mullarkey, L.Barkers-Obua (M.Stacey), G.Terblanche, C.Blake (W.Gibson) W.Foley ( H.Gutsell) T.Paul, S.Henderson, O.Ruttle( A.Holmes), J.Read, .Naylor( C.Clark)
Onto the League Cup 1/4 final at Corinthian Casuals this Saturday.