Sat 23rd Feb 2019
Suburban Football League North Division
TAFC Development team 7-0 Hartley Witney
TAFC goals: Ollie Ruttle (3), Lee Stobbs, Billie Busari, Joe Naylor, Leslie Barkers-Obua
D.Saunders.C.Clark (C.Church),L.Barkers- Obua, Brima Johnson,
L.Stobbs, C.Blake,W. Salmon, B.Busari (E.Gbejuade),G.Terblanche ( L.Kusi), O.Ruttle (C.Asante) J.Naylor( P.Nmoh)
After 20 mins of this return fixture and playing up the slope the game was reasonably even. The bobbly pitch together with the opposition caused us problems . A couple of excellent Lee Stobbs crosses caused mayhem and slowly but surely we built up a head of steam. After 25 mins a cut back from Joe Naylor resulted in a tidy finish for Ollie Ruttle. Within 5 mins Joe Naylor burst in the area and was brought down but from the resultant spot kick the visiting custodian made a decent save low to his right and at that time it was potentially a game changer. However within minutes Billi Busari was fouled 25 yards out to the right of their goal and Lee Stobbs stroked the free kick home. We then tightened our grip with a good individual goal from Billi Busari and then Joe Naylors 18 th goal in 17 games effectively sealed 3 valuable points.
With the slope behind us and a match winning lead it was hard to maintain the standard . For 15 mins we were scrappy and then Ollie Ruttle scored his second and Les Barkers -Obua shinned home a corner and Ollie Ruttle completed his first senior hat trick for Tring Athletic. We made use of all 5 subs inc a welcome return for Connor Church to see out an opposition who kept trying to play and never resorted to any underhand tactics.
A good day. Now to start again at Dunstable Town on Thursday in the Shield.