Bank Holiday South Midlands Football - Tring Athletic vs. Oxhey Jets

First half action with the clubhouse and fantastic stand in the background.

After weeks without a game, I managed to get to two in three days thanks to the bank holiday. I went to Tring to see my first Spartan South Midlands game since my ill fated trip to Berkhampsted. Their visitors were the fantastically named Oxhey Jets. Tring were on a high after beating league leaders Chalfont St. Peter in their previous league game to close the gap at the top of the league. Tring were also after revenge after Oxhey Jets inflicated Tring's first defeat of the season at The Boundary Stadium back in October.

View from the main stand.

Tring press their visitors from the start and do so by playing some intricate passing football. However, much like Arsenal, they seem intent to walk the ball in and could have been several goals ahead had they had a few more shots on goal. Oxhey Jets punish them for this when they score a fantastic goal on the counter attack. At the end of a lightening fast break, the impressive Lewis Putman smashes the ball past the goal keeper from just outside the box. Tring temporarily go a bit more direct in search of an equaliser and almost score from a corner but the striker can't get a clean connection in the six yard box.

Tring on the attack at the end of the first half.

The second half is very end to end with Oxhey continuing to hit their hosts on the break. Despite having a lot of possession, Tring fail to force the goal keeper in to a significant save. Both sides had penalty appeals turned down by the referee as the second half wears on. Tring finally manage to create a clear cut chance but the striker shots straight at the goalie when put through. Oxhey manage to hold and Tring miss the chance to further close the gap on the league leaders.

Tring push for the equaliser late in the second half.

The walk from Tring station to the ground is a barren one, in that their are no pubs or shops on the half hour walk. I would not recommend walking to ground for a mid week game as long stretches of the walk are unlit and is very dark as the road is surrounded by trees on both sides! There is a taxi rank right next to station. Trains take three quarters of an hour and depart every half hour from Euston. The clubhouse is quite big and does not have Sky Sports.

Another view of the stand.

More match photos can be found in the match report on the Oxhey Jets website.