Tring Corinthians

Tring Corinthians 3 Caddington 3

Disappointing finale sees Corinthians throw away three goal lead

On the back of a 'freak' 0-0 draw the previous week, the last thing Tring needed in their push for promotion was another draw as they entertained Caddington in this, their second, league match of the season. Having handed out an exhibition in incisive attacking football during a 25 minute spell either side of half-time, in which Corinthians scored three and hit the woodwork twice, this game looked over as a contest. That was not to prove the case however.

Manager Ross Parrett had to shuffle the pack for this one with absentees Corbitt, Rose, and Higgins leaving gaping holes through the spine of the team which stood so firm against Crawley Green. The returning Miles and Hills plugged those gaps with Smith allowed to take on his more favoured position in a midfield role with Montgomerie making his first start for the club.

The game started well, albeit with an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu as Corinthians were once again guilty of being wasteful; Hoque cushioning the ball back across goal and into the keeper's arms with the whole net to aim at. A string of corners came to nothing and when Byrne's looping header came back off the inside of the post on 40 minutes it looked like it was going to be another one of those days. But, on 43 minutes the deadlock was finally broken as a beautiful cross was played across the box from left to right and Hoque powerfully headed home for 1-0.

Caddington were looking tired already and they increasingly needed to become reliant on alternative means to stay in the game; Tring forced to ride a serious of high and late challenges whilst the opposition were making the increasingly harassed referee's job all the harder.

The second half started well and Byrne pealed himself off the floor to slot home a penalty which was awarded on 53 minutes. Five minutes later and it was 3-0, a brilliant end to end move and unselfish lay off gave Herring every opportunity which he took with both hands. Moments later and first Hoque, then Byrne were marauding down the right – Byrne navigating his way into the six yard box and placing his shot past the keeper but off the outside of the post for what would have been a killer fourth goal.

Then, with seventeen minutes to go, the whole complexion of the game changed.

An in-swinging Caddington free kick, delivered from 35 yards out, eluded everyone and found its way directly into the far corner – everyone expecting someone else to deal with it. This was promptly followed by panic in the home side box when a driven ball across the area, the type that would ordinarily be handled comfortably, was instead smashed into his own net by the unfortunate Hatton as the nerves set in.

Despite this seeming pendulum of favour swinging toward Caddington it still looked likely that Tring would add to their tally as Herring and Montgomerie on the break was creating glorious chances to kill the game. But the final sucker punch came courtesy of the opposition who completed their smash and grab draw with 5 minutes remaining.

Coker in goal made two late saves to prevent what had looked to be such a comfortable win turning into what might have been a catastrophic defeat. Then two minutes into time added on Montgomerie almost snatched it as he played the ball round the left full back, danced into the area and looped his shot agonisingly wide of the far angle.

After the game, Parrett had this to say:

“I don't really want to talk about it to be honest. I feel sorry for the lads because theyve shot themselves in the foot. We need to learn to keep our concentration for the whole 90 minutes and be less wasteful in front of goal. I expect a response from the lads at the weekend.”