Tring Athletic battle back to make a point against Hadley

With two cup finals still to look forward to, an effort from Lee Stobbs and an own-goal ensured the Tring could hold their heads up high as they finished the campaign in 12th place in the table.

Hadley only had to wait until the eighth minute for their opening goal when defender Gustavo Angel-Tamayo converted a free-kick from just outside the area for 1-0.

Tring keeper Jack Hopwood was called into action on the quarter hour mark, coming out quickly to make a great save from Hadley’s leading scorer Ivan Machedo, and soon afterwards Tanasheh Abrahams fired wastefully wide.

Gradually Tring started to get into the game, however, and Kieran Turner produced an exquisite cross from the right to pick out Sam Joliffe at the far post, but his header was blocked on the line.

In the 31st minute Tring levelled the scores as young Ben Seaton played a lovely ball through to Stobbs who finished confidently for his eighth goal in his last 12 games.

Hadley midfielder Nick Chrysanthou nearly regained the lead for Hadley with a well-struck free-kick, but Hopwood was in the right place to tip it over the bar as the sides went in level at half-time.

Tring’s concentration levels faltered early in the second half as they failed to clear a corner, and from close range centre-back Sam Lyon was able to head Hadley back in front only seven minutes after the restart.

Athletic were struggling to create good scoring opportunities but they began to put some pressure on the opposition and it paid dividends with a minute of normal time left.

Jay Caines won a corner which the Hadley keeper flapped at. The ball fell to Stobbs at the far post and he drilled in a shot that hit a defender and snuck just inside the post to level the scores.