Jack’s the lad for Tring as impressive youngster sees off Harefield United

Tring Athletic got back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory against a young Harefield United side courtesy of two goals from youngster Jack Sunderland playing in an unfamiliar strikers’ role.

Athletic created the first chance of the game as Kieran Turner turned inside a defender, but his shot was saved by the legs of home keeper Jacob Ballheimer.

Soon afterwards, Harefield’s Adam Mohammad forced himself through defenders but Matt Evans was quickly off his line to save.

Tring thought they had opened the scoring in the 25th minute through Turner but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.

There was no denying Athletic in the 36th minute, however, as Sunderland robbed a defender, saw the keeper off his line and fired into the goal for 1-0.

Athletic continued to push forward and Dave O’Connor saw his header from a corner fly over the bar just before half-time.

In the 52nd minute Tring increased their lead as a terrific cross by Lee Stobbs found Sunderland at the back post to head home into the goal.

Harefield then began to play with more purpose, winning a number of corners and creating a handful of half chances.

At times it left them exposed, however, and Athletic broke quickly in the 79th minute; Turner beat two defenders and rounded the keeper but another defender managed to get back to concede a corner.

In the third minute of stoppage time Athletic were awarded an obvious penalty when Chris Mason was tripped, but Sam Joliffe blazed the ball over the bar as the game finished 2-0.