Tue 27th Oct 2020
Spartan South Midlands Premier Division
Wembley 1-4 TAFC First team
TAFC goals: Oliver Butler (2), Joe Naylor, Harrison Cornick
A great result for Tring against another side close to the foot of the table. Athletic's goals were scored by Ollie Butler (2) Joe Naylor and Harrison Cornick.
Building on last Saturday's performance against Oxhey Jets, we had a second consecutive Tuesday night victory and with some of the other results going in our favour we moved away from being the "strongest " team in the Division.
Our recruitment of players carries on 3 new players were introduced - Aaron Bryan at left back who settled after a frenetic start to play his part, Scott Bullock recruited from Berko Raiders who had to be introduced early following yet another injury to Jack Sunderland and added a measure of experience and quality to this young squad. Returnee Mesach Hendrickson played the last 15 mins holding the ball up. With more players on the way we are looking to raise the experience of the squad without preventing the younger lads playing.
On the usual superb surface at Wembley FC both sides knocked the ball about confidently. Ollie Butler headed wide from a Joe Chott cross before on 20 mins he successfully converted a Will Foley set piece with a deft header down low past their keeper. Ollie then hit the post and once again luck seemed to be against us, but on 32 mins Joe Naylor cut in before reversing a cross shot to give us a 2 goal lead for the first team this season. Within 5 mins Will Foley, who improves with every game played a square pass to Ollie Butler, credit to the Official who played a good advantage to allow the Better Butler to stake his claim for goal of the season with a ferocious strike.
Giddy heights! For once we didn't look like conceding before half time.
The expected reaction from Wembley FC duly happened. They went a bit longer and on a couple of occasions, a last ditch tackle or clearance from skipper Kevin Mcmamus and Scott Bullock repelled the danger. We seemed to have weathered the mini storm but a poor decision from an assistant who missed what looked like an obvious off side allowed our opponents to cut the deficit.
The quality of our play deteriorated, but having battled hard, we then put the game to bed when Harrison Cornick converted from the edge of area after yet another Will Foley set piece was only half cleared.
Impossible to fault the effort and application of the squad and although Ollie Butlers 2 goals made all the difference, this was especially in the 45 mins a genuine team performance .
We now must build on this result, with the first of 4 consecutive Saturday home games, starting with local rivals Dunstable Town FC.
Team
David Saunders, Jack Sunderland (Scott Bullock) Kevin Mcmanus, James Butler, Aaron Bryan, Harrison Cornick, Will Salmon,(M.Hendrickson) Will Foley, Joe Chott (Callum Shortt) Ollie Butler, Joe Naylor.