Saturday 26th August 2006 - Spartan South Midlands Premier Division
Tring Athletic 1 Hertford Town 7

The major change from the team which lost the opening league game to Oxhey Jets was the introduction of twin strikers in Ryan Redford and Robbie Syrett
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Teams:Hertford Town 1. Mark Virgo 2. Mark Teasdale, 3. Tom Neill, 4. Matt Watts, 5. Jamie Nicholson, 6. Adrian Robinson, 7. Ryan Wade ©, 8. Nicky Marsh, 9. Ryan Redford 10. Robbie Syrett 11. Lee Roberts subs 12. Halil Akil (for Robinson,65) 14. Leo Turner 15. Kevin Ashwood (for Neill, 55) 16. Paul Dodd (for Wade, 80) 17. Pat O'Brien

Tring Athletic: 1. Gary White 2. Terry Philips 3. Kerry Gordon 4. Dave Foskett © 5. John Perry 6. Gary Nicholson 7. Ben Williams 8. Peter Martin 9. Matt Wort 10. Danny Gray 11. Rob Duncan subs 12. Paul Lewis 14. Stuart Stedman 15. Liam Meenan 17. Dave Adamson

It seemed like the game had hardly got underway when in the 4th minute Robbie SYRETT shot from just inside the box, and a slight deflection off a defender beat Tring keeper White. The next moment of note was yet another goal for Hertford in the 9th minute. Ryan Redford put a through ball to SYRETT who slotted it home into the bottom right corner.

Play then settled down for a while, with little to report at either end. On 20 minutes following a good run down the left by Lee Roberts, Syrett passed inside to Ryan Redford whose shot was saved by White. Less than 10 minutes later, REDFORD again found a shooting position, but this time he out-muscled the Tring keeper to score from 2 yards out.

Just on the half hour Tring pulled one back when Peter MARTIN slotted a loose ball low to Mark Virgo's left giving him no chance.

HALF Time: Tring Athletic 1 Hertford Town 3

Five minutes into the second half Tring missed an opportunity when a cross was whipped in, but the Tring forwards could not find a finish. Shortly after this, Kevin Ashwood came in at right back, replacing Tom Neill and Mark Teasdale switched to the left.

On 57 minutes Danny Gray produced a good save from Virgo, and a little later Syrett received a beautiful through ball from Roberts on the left. A flying header by Redford just failed to get on the end of the resultant cross. It would have been a textbook goal.
Two minutes later Hertford did score another. A shot from Redford was blocked, and Matt WATTS fired in the rebound from 18 yards.
It seemed as if the Blues had really found their shooting boots now, as Roberts forced a good save from White from 20 yards out which the Tring keeper just managed to tip over the bar.

Next it was REDFORD's turn again, as on 70 minutes he beat the keeper and scored from a very narrow angle from the right goal line - the ball just crossing the line after hitting the far post. A minute later Redford was on the scoresheet again, this time, beating the keeper from about 10 yards out.

The final goal, which was probably the most spectacular, came in the 83rd minute. Lee ROBERTS got the ball just outside the box. With no direct shot on goal available and surrounded by defenders, he chipped the ball up and struck it on the volley.


Full Time: Tring Athletic 1 Hertford Town 7