With his back line decimated by player being unavailable, manager Dave Greenwood drafted in Glen Holman at left back in place of Pablo Ardiles, and had intended to play Joel Maybury at centre half, but had to give the shirt to midfielder Matt McArdle after it was realised that Maybury was suspended.
Hertford Town: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Glen Holman, 4. Sean Crossley, 5. Matt McArdle, 6. Ryan Wade, 7. Phil Goss, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Kevin Cooper (capt), 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 14. Panayiotis Panayiotou (for Wade, 75), 16. Dave Greenwood (for Holman, 85)

Tring Athletc: 1. Stuart Beddall, 2. Dave Foskett (capt), 3. Kerry Gordon, 4. Paul Aldridge, 5. Dave Salmon, 6. Chris Salmon, 7. Dave Whicker, 8. Trevor Gibbs, 9. Mark Burfoot, 10. Rob Duncan, 11. Danny Gray. Subs Used: 14. Ali Thornley, 15. Vinnie Iannone, 18. Ian Wilkinson.

The game began seven or eight minutes late, which mystified the crowd, as the players had all been on the pitch for the scheduled 19.45 kick off. It was the match officials who were missing, and it turned out that they had been delayed in their preparations by the referee's assessor, and had then needed to do their warm up, essential on such a cold night. This had left 22 players standing about on the pitch getting cold.
Hertford's makeshift defence hardly settled well in the early minutes, and it looked black for the Blues when TREVOR GIBBS sidefooted home from close range on only 5 minutes, with Hertford all at sea. Hertford were looking good going forward though and Phil Goss played a good ball inside to the overlapping Nicky Marsh, whose volley only missed the far post by inches.
New boy Attila Korsoveczki was showing that his form on his debut was no fluke, with good movement and a fine first touch. Hertford won a 9th minute corner which Tring had trouble clearing. The ball fell to Ryan Wade, outside the box, and his shot through a ruck of players nearly caught out keeper Beddall. Hertford were level on 14 minutes when PHIL GOSS finished well from 12 yards as Tring again struggled to clear their lines.
It was clear even at this early stage that more goals would come, as neither defence looked secure. Tring's Dave Whicker robbed Matt McArdle and came close with his shot then Nicky Marsh was extremely lucky to escape a booking as he pushed his opponent illegally to stop him breaking clear. Hertford tok the lead on 38 minutes when ATTILA KORSOVECZKI scored with a good strike from 12 yards as he found himself free in the box. Tring were sure that someone had been off side in the build up, but their protests were ignored.
As Hertford looked forward to a half-time lead, Tring equalised with practically the last kick of the half, when MARK BURFOOT lashed an unstoppable dipping shot across Mark Virgo's goal from the left corner of the box.

Half Time: Hertford Town 2 Tring Athletic 2

The half had barely got started before Ryan Wade was booked for dissent. On 49 minutes, Tring were incensed when the referee agreed with Korsoveczki that Paul Aldridge had passed the ball back to his keeper, who had picked the ball up. When Ryan Wade squared the free kick to Dave Hunt, the number 8's fierce shot only narrowly cleared the bar. Although Kevin Cooper was playing an influential role, he was not getting much sight of goal. On 55 minutes though, he came very close to giving his side the lead. Tring should have gone ahead immediately after when, following a shot by Danny Gray which Mark Virgo beat out, Mark Burfoot somehow headed wide from inside the six yard box.
On 67 minutes, Tring's Chris Salmon was booked for chopping down Dave Hunt as he broke clear. Ryan Wade's excellant free kick from 19 yards thudded on to the crossbar and rebounded into play. ATTILA KORSOVECZKI was first to the ball and put The Blues 3-2 ahead with a crisp left foot finish.
There was sheer delight for the home fans a minute later when PHIL GOSS scored his second of the night, as Hertford swarmed all over their visitors. David Whicker was booked for upending Kevin Cooper before Mark Burfoot had a snap shot which Mark Virgo caught comfortably. Pany Panayiotou came on for Ryan Wade on 75 minutes and Tring sent on striker Vinnie Iannone and Ian Wilkinson. Tring were throwing everything at Hertford's struggling back line, and howled for a penalty when Glen Holman brought his man down right on the edge of the box. The free kick was awarded inches outside the penalty area and the ball was eventually cleared when Matt McArdle hooked the ball off the line.
Kevin Cooper was booked for arguing about an offside decision when the flag went up for the wrong man, as it was Korsoveczki who was offside. With five minutes to go Dave Greenwood decided to put himself on for Glen Holman,to shore up the defence for the final period of play. Almost immediately Tring scored - MARK BURFOOT netting from close range as the home defence were all over the place. As Hertford held on to their lead, Korsoveczki was rather harshly booked for a tackle from behind, his first foul of the entire game, in which he had again played a major role.

Final Score: Hertford Town 4 Tring Athletic 3
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