On another day they would have clocked up double figures, but a mixture of inspired goalkeeping and some not so clinical finishing kept the scoreline more than respectable for the hosts.

Turning up at Icknield Way was a throwback to our early days when we were playing North & Mid Herts League football. It was nice little set up with clubhouse, but the pitch was on a slope and open to the elements.

The elements were undoubtedly against us in the first half when we played up the slope into a bitterly cold breeze. The pitch looked in decent nick from the sidelines, but Baldock struggled for long periods of the first half despite enjoying the majority of possession.

The home side didn’t have a kick for the opening two minutes as Town kept possession well, but a heavy touch from Dean Gilbert allowed Harry Bullifent to knock the ball past him, round Jack Farmer and steer the ball into the empty net.

It took the visitors a good 25 minutes to settle after this early setback and a couple of decent moves resulted in shots on goal for Anthony James and Kim Forsythe.

This little foothold gave the Reds a bit of confidence and they levelled on 33 minutes. Tring gave away a free kick on the edge of their own penalty area. There were a couple of other candidates, but player manager Luke Gregson took control. He guided his free-kick over the wall and into the roof of the net.

As the half wore on, debutant Freddie Morris started to pull the strings in midfield with some assured passes. One such move resulted in a second goal for Town five minutes before the break. A neat move involving Morris and then Owen Robertson saw the former cross for James to expertly steer home at the near post for his 20th goal of the season.

Seconds later a through ball from Gregson had James through again, but this time the keeper made a good save to deny the Reds leading marksman.

With the slope and breeze in their favour, it was completely one-way traffic in the second half. In the opening ten minutes Forsythe, Josh Furness, Robertson and substitute Alex Coppin all tested the reflexes of home keeper Paul Jeffs, who seemed to deal with everything thrown at him.

When he didn’t, the woodwork was coming to the rescue with Robertson and Coppin rattling the frame of the goal with excellent strikes. Tring almost scored two own goals too with one comically coming back off the goalkeeper’s head after he made another save, but fortunately for him one of his defender’s hooked clear.

The Reds finally made the game safe with ten minutes remaining when Gregson played in James and he moved the ball onto his left foot before arrowing into the bottom right hand corner.

You sensed that the killer third would open the floodgates, but it didn’t materialise and incredibly the hosts closed the gap to one goal with six minutes remaining. They had barely ventured out of their own half in the second period, but a free-kick into the box wasn’t dealt with and the ball was headed home.

Fortunately there was no nervy finish though and Kim Forsythe headed home a Connor Gray corner with the last action of the match to make it 4-2. This win books a Quarter-Final trip to Herts Senior County League Sandridge Rovers on Saturday 3rd December – 1.30pm kick off.

Next up for Gregson’s men is the visit of Potton United to Roker Park on Tuesday evening in the North Beds Charity Cup. All the proceeds of this game go to charity, so please do come along and show your support.

Town: Farmer, Pitcairn, Furness, Gilbert, Beckwith, Morris(Coppin 52), Barker(Payne 80), Forsythe, James, Robertson(Gray 71) Subs Not Used: Hennessey

Other results:

Spartan South Midlands League Division One

Broadfields United 3-2 Harpenden Town
Buckingham Athletic 3-0 Brimsdown
Hadley Wood & Wingate 1-3 Harefield United
Risborough Rangers 4-3 Kensington Borough
Southall 3-1 Winslow United

League Table

Herts Senior Centenary Trophy - Round Two

Codicote 3-6 Belstone
Sarratt 2-1 Hatfield Town
Tring Corinthians 2-4 Baldock Town
Wodson Park 3-0 Bushey Sports Club

Beds Senior Trophy - Round Two

Bedford 1-2 Ampthill Town
Langford 1-1 Biggleswade (10-9 on penalties)
Sharnbrook 3-1 Arlesey Town Reserves