Athletic are glad to get back in the winning habit after 3-0 home win

The visitors rightly received national recognition for the stirring exploits of their under-18s who reached the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, eventually losing to Aston Villa at Villa Park.

This was a magnificent achievement for the club and while the first team are struggling at the bottom of the Premier Division and look certain to be relegated, their long-term prospects look promising.

Athletic soon opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Picking up a poor clearance from the Boro keeper just outside the opposition area, Luke Dunstan drifted past two defenders and from a tight angle fired a low shot inside the far post. It was a terrific piece of play and finishing from the influential midfielder who turned 20 in January and has already clocked up 120 first team games (13 goals).

Boro would have grabbed an equaliser ten minutes later but for a super save from Jack Hopwood.

Tring extended their lead just past the half-hour. Again Dunstan was involved, winning the ball in midfield and sending Jack Read away with a lovely pass. Read went round the keeper and slotted home his sixth goal in the nine games he has played since joining the club from Welwyn Garden City.

Six minutes later Lee Stobbs and Chris Vardy cleverly combined to put Read away but from a good position he shot wide.

After the break, Read sent an early chance wide and Dave O’Connor hit the bar from a Stobbs’ cross.

O’Connor was frustrated again when his goal-bound header from a Jack Seaton cross was headed off the line.

But O’Connor was determined to get on the score sheet and he achieved his aim in the 65th minute, climbing above a defender at the far post to head home a fine cross from Stobbs to make it 3-0.

With the game won and the opposition failing to trouble keeper Hopwood it was a question of whether Athletic could add to their tally.

Chris Stapleton and Vardy went close and Tommy Twelves appeared to be denied what looked like a clear penalty but there were no further goals and Athletic were able to claim a fairly easy three points.

They were pleased to get back to winning ways especially as they have some difficult games coming up, starting with the visit of Oxhey Jets last night (Tuesday).

Athletic then have an unusual Friday night game in Tring against London Tigers. It is technically Tigers’ home game but their ground is out of action.