Ashford United are still on the road to Wembley with this hard fought victory over their South Midlands League opponents Tring Athletic.

The game took a while to get going with Tring probably shading the first 15 minutes without causing Ashford any problems & after this Ashford came into the game & they had the first real chance of the game when Ben Jordan 25 yards out saw his volley easily saved by Mike Underwood, then in the very next minute a Tring corner into the area saw a Michael Green header go just past the post.

In the 27^th minute Sam Conlon & Buster Smissen combined letting Smissen in the area & from an acute angle forced Underwood to make a save. In the 32^nd minute Liam Whitting’s corner forced Underwood to push it away for another corner.

Ashford were now enjoying the lion’s share of the ball & in the 34^th minute Adam Cuthbert saw his 20 yard shot deflected for a corner & then 2 minutes later Conlon received the ball 45 yards out on the touchline & he cut inside & ran on into the area avoiding 2 tackles but his shot went just over the bar.

In the very next minute Ashford thought they had taken the lead when Whitting on the left crossed into the 6 yards area for James Dryden who headed downwards towards the goal but Underwood made great ground & saved it.

The second half started quickly as both sides in the first 4 minutes had chances to score, firstly Ashford when in the 47^th minute a long clearance was flicked on for Conlon who raced away into the area but his shot was saved by the advancing Underwood & then in the 49^th minute a Tring counter attack saw Martin Skinner control the ball & from 25 yards his chip beat Jo Mant but not the crossbar as it rebounded back into play.

In the 55^th minute Ashford took the lead when Sam Fisher on the left was free & his cross to the back post found Dryden who from 10 yards shot home.

In the 65^th minute with confidence growing Ashford’s Dryden tried an audacious volley but Underwood saved & then three minutes later a Jordan free kick into the area missed everyone forcing Underwood into a save at his post.

Tring started getting possession & pushing forward for the equaliser & in the 73^rd minute Chris Vardey found himself in the area alone but his shot was saved by Mant.

Ashford’s last real chance came in the 75^th minute when Whiting put Fisher in on goal but his shot was saved by Underwood. The last 15 minutes plus added on time saw Ashford retreat & allow Tring to go for it & in the 81^st minute the ball into the area was only half cleared to Sam Joliffe whose shot went over the bar, then in the 4^th minute off added time a ball into the Ashford area was half cleared to Vardey & his shot was saved by Mant.

The final whistle went & a little bit of relief for Ashford as they now go into the last 32 off the competition.

 

ASHFORD:

1. J.MANT  2. J.MILLER  3. L.WHITTING  4. G.CLARKE  5. L.CUTHBERT  6. B.JORDAN  7. S.FISHER

8. A.CUTHBERT (89)  9. B.SMISSEN (70) 10. S.CONLON (77)  11. J.DRYDEN

SUBS USED:   12. O.FINCH (77)  14. G.MICKLEBOROUGH (70)  15. D.SCORER (89)

SUBS NOT USED: 16. D.WALLACE  17. J.SPARKES

BOOKINGS: 7. S.FISHER (72)

TRING ATHLETIC:

1. M.UNDERWOOD  2. D.SALMON  3. S.STEADMAN (83)  4. C.SALMON  5. M.GREEN  6. S.JOLIFFE

7. C.VARDEY  8. L.BENNING (62)  9. M.SKINNER  10. G.HALL  11. R.STURGESS (76)

SUBS USED:  12. J.ROBINOH (76)  14. I.RICHARDSON (62)  15. D.SHUNDEM

SUBS NOT USED: 16. K.HARRIS

BOOKINGS: 2. D.SALMON (85)

REFEREE: Mr C.BOWELL

ASSISTANTS: Mr J.PICKFORD & Mr J.POPE

ATTENDANCE: 335