Stotfold fury at Tring leveller

There is a really positive attitude in the Eagles changing room with players who are really starting to believe in themselves at this late stage of the SSML Premier season.

The home side shaded the early possession and the territory but without offering any real quality or goal threat,

Stotfold certainly had less of the ball but more composure as they tried to get the passing game going by keeping possession going backwards to start again when needed.

The game sparked into life on 30 minutes when a genuinely mistimed tackle by Billy Baird caused uproar in the Tring ranks and a melee ensued.

Once the ref calmed the situation down Stotfold went up the other end and Ben L’Honore was brought down for what looked like a stonewall penalty, but it wasn’t given.

Stotfold then had a series of good close opportunities, first L’Honore with a header from a corner that flew just wide, then Jake Long brought a good save from the keeper with a left footed shot that was heading for the top cormer.

The visitors had nothing to show for a good first half but made amends when they took the lead on 54 minutes.

A corner from the left had the Tring keeper flapping. L’Honore’s header was goalbound but the huge frame of skipper Regan Mendes shepherded the ball over the line.

This was quickly followed by a Baird cracker from 25 yards that flew just wide of the right hand upright.

On 80 minutes came arguably the game’s major talking point. The ball went out of play in front of the Stotfold dugout and the Tring full back then stole a 10 yard advantage on the throw. Fifteen seconds later the ball was in the back of the visitors’ net, much to the fury of Stotfold.

For the last 10 minutes it was frenetic end to end football with both sides going in search of the winner.

L’Honore missed a sitter whilst at the other end Adam Harpur pulled off what can only be described as a world-class reaction save to to keep Stotfold on level terms.

The Eagles host Welwyn Garden City on Saturday and visit Oxhey Jets on Tuesday.