Mitres edge out Tring to progress in FA Cup

Whilst the hosts controlled a lot of the ball early on it was the visitors who looked the most threatening, with Tommy Twelves having a couple of efforts go close, including a powerfully struck shot which went just over when he was left free at the back post.

Emmanuel Gbejuade then saw his effort well saved by Sam Gilder before Bishop’s Cleeve started to create some chances of their own with Blaine Waugh’s header going just over and Linden Dovey’s powerful long range effort going just wide. However neither side managed to find the net in the first half.

Bishop’s Cleeve nearly took the lead seventeen seconds after the restart as Jack Watts crossed to Kieran Alder in the box but the midfielder slipped on the greasy surface as he struck his shot meaning it was an easy save for Dave Saunders in the Tring goal.

Tring then saw Oliver Butler and Kieran Turner have several shots on target blocked as the hosts started to really push for the opener.

It was Cleeve however that made the breakthrough on the hour mark. Waugh had won a freekick on the right hand edge of the box and after a bit of pinball in the box the ball ended up in the back of the Tring net, with Matthew Sysum deemed to have got the all important final touch.

The goal seemed to be the turning point in the match as Cleeve now started to look the most threatening with the tireless Waugh and sub Zac Guinan, making his debut on youth loan from Cheltenham Town, causing problems for the Tring defence.

It was Waugh’s determination that led to Cleeve’s second goal when slight hesitation in the Tring defence was seized upon by him, not once but twice to then cross to Harrison Reeves for the winger to calmly convert with eight minutes to go.

Tring still hadn’t given up and it took several fine saves from Sam Gilder to prevent them coming back into the game as well as some fine corner hold up play by Jack Watts (frustrating if against you, brilliant if for you) to seal the 2-0 win.

The draw for the First Qualifying Round will be made on Monday 23rd August.

Photo credit: Glenn Watts