Match Report: Tring Athletic 2 Fleet Town 2 (Pens 2-4)
Fleet Town won through to the next round of the Isuzu FA Vase, scoring 4 out of 4 from the spot after a late Tring equaliser had sent the game into a shootout.
The afternoon had started brightly for Fleet Town when after great control by Chike Kandi, he squared the ball to Kai Tanner who made no mistake in front of goal and converted this opening to put Fleet Town ahead after just 3 minutes. The large travelling support were hoping for another goal to soothe their nerves as it only needed a lucky run of the ball or a defensive slip that could have let Tring back into the game. Action stayed tight as both sides probed and pressed, with Tring’s Kieran Turner was able to get the better of Fleet defenders and play in some dangerous crosses but none of his attackers were able to reach the ball to create a chance and Fleet comfortably cleared any danger and held on to their narrow advantage into half time.
The second half saw Tring win an early corner, this was played into the box where Dylan Fitzpatrick was waiting to turn the ball home and equalise for the home side just four minutes into the half. Tring were unable to make numerical advantage count, while Fleet Town had to play ten minutes, with just nine on the pitch, while two players had a rest in the sin bin. As soon as Fleet were back at full strength, they were getting on top and looking most likely to score. After Seventy Nine minutes a long run by Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb took him right up into the box and let fire a shot which was spilled by Tring keeper Josh Ameganvi and Tane Caubo was first to the loose ball and made no mistake in passing the ball into the net to restore Fleet’s advantage. Fleet kept their lead until the eighty-seventh minute when Kieran Turner struck for Tring to being the home side level at 2-2. Into added time Fleet Town made their only change of the game to bring Dan Bone on, in anticipation of a Penalty shootout. The game soon finished in the draw and as it had to be decided on the day, it went to penalties.
Tring Athletic were up first, with Fleet Town following each kick by the home side. Right from the start Fleet held the advantage as Tring were unable to score with their first kick and only beat Finlay Purcell twice, as they also failed to score their third kick, while Fleet were flawless as Dean Rule, Josh Stepney, Dan Bone and Chike Kandi all beat Josh Ameganvi to find the net and complete a 4-2 penalty victory.
Fleet’s heroes today were Finlay Purcell, Nick Medcraft, Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb, Josh Stepney, Cameron Black, George Hedley, Kai Tanner, Matt Surmon, Tane Caubo, Dean Rule, Chike Kandi plus Dan Bone from the bench and the unused subs Lekan Osideko, Aaron Petch, Campbell Scott and Brad Manning.
Fleet Town still do not know their opponents in the next round as the Tunbridge Wells v Crawley Down Gatwick match was postponed again today due to a waterlogged pitch at Tunbridge. It is expected those sides will have to try again next Saturday.
