MATCH REPORT
WELWYN GARDEN CITY F C 0 V TRING ATHLETIC F C 1
HERTS CHARITY SHIELD 3RD DECEMBER 2019

Winning is becoming a habit again!

Three wins on the bounce doesnt make a season but it is an indication that we have got over our autumn dip in form and are back in full swing. On Saturday, we reported on a superb attacking display against London Colney, today we report on a top drawer defensive performance in keeping a clean sheet against high riding, step 4 opponents Welwyn Garden City.

We were under considerable pressure during the final thirty minutes of the game but held out to book a semi-final tie versus Colney Heath. Tring and Colney Heath have all the hallmarks of last seasons Tring and Biggleswade F C but this season it will be Tring who come out on top!

The whole defence was magnificent, so much so that I hesitate to single anyone out. And, of course, defending begins with the forwards. However, Charlie Mann and Jay Lovell were outstanding. Charlie saved with his feet, then with his hands, then he punched clear, then he caught a dangerous cross man, he was in good form. He has been consistently good all season but this was his best to date. The only time he was beaten the woodwork came to our rescue, once from the penalty spot and then, very late on, when a WGC forward smacked a shot from 30 yards which crashed against the bar.

Jay was simply everywhere, totally dominating our penalty area, hard as nails and refusing to give an inch. It was a great way to sign off for an enforced three match absence and, although he will be hard to replace, we do seem to have an abundance of talent in that area.

We gave a debut to Michael Toner who looks to be an uncompromising defensive mid-fielder with a cultured left foot, who is going to add something different to our squad.

We opened brightly, with Dan Ferrigno featuring strongly with darting runs and a couple of efforts which went narrowly wide. The penalty miss after 20 minutes was obviously a big let off and we capitalised on that by taking the lead after 30 minutes with, what transpired to be, the only goal of the game. From a Max Mitchell corner Marcus Melling rose above the defence with a header which hit the woodwork and Luke Dunstan was on hand to nudge the ball across the line. It is good to see Luke getting amongst the goals again after a lean spell earlier in the season.

Jack Sunderlands foraging forward runs were causing problems to the WGC right hand side so much so that Jack eventually became Bogdans man of the match.

We got through to half time with our lead in tact and looked to have things pretty much sewn up until WGC went up a gear or two and dominated the last period. Nonetheless, we broke well on occasion and most of us thought we should have had a penalty when Frankie Hercules went down under a challenge inside the box. The ref thought differently.

And so, we have overcome the first test of a defining week. Next the hugely important encounter against Newport Pagnell. We go in to that match confident in the knowledge that our strike force is in form and our defence is rock solid. And that is a great combination.

Team: C Mann, B Johnson (J Carter 60), J Sunderland, J Lovell, P Lowen, M Toner, L Dunstan, D Ferrigno, M Mitchell (F Hercules 68), T Dixon (K Turner 55), M Melling

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