Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier Division Tring Athletic 2 Colney Heath 1 COLNEY Heath boss Scott Lacey says he was encouraged by his team s performance despite losing 2-1 to Tring Athletic. The Magpies boss was without eight first team players due t

Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier Division

Tring Athletic 2 Colney Heath 1

COLNEY Heath boss Scott Lacey says he was encouraged by his team's performance despite losing 2-1 to Tring Athletic.

The Magpies boss was without eight first team players due to injuries and suspension and was forced to come out of retirement to play in defence.

Heath travelled to Cow Lane with a game plan and it worked during the first half, as they frustrated their opponents and reached half time at 0-0.

However disaster struck five minutes after the break when David Whicker gambled on keeping Ashley Addison's cross in play to set Graham Hall up for an easy tap-in.

Heath fell further behind in the 65th minute when Whicker whipped a cross in that totally deceived goalkeeper Tom Blackman and nestled in the back of the net.

Phil Jackman reduced the deficit for the Magpies when he broke through the defence and finished.

Jackman could have grabbed the visitors a point when he rounded 'keeper Dave Clark and shot only for Andy Mullins to hack the ball off the line.

Despite the defeat Lacey was in positive mood.

"It was an encouraging performance for the team we had out and that's not being disrespectful to the team we had out. It's also disappointing because we did enough to get something from the game."

The Magpies boss was left to rue lapses in concentration in the backline and he says this needs to be eradicated if the team is to have a successful season.

"The players must concentrate for 90 minutes. The can't concentrate for 80 minutes and switch off for 10 minutes and expect to get away with it because whatever people say this is a good standard of football. We're still in the run and we'll work harder. All credit to Tring they showed a good squad mentality."

Lacey says his side are making life hard for themselves but is sure his team will turn their fortunes around soon.

"When you win it doesn't matter who you play but when you're down the hard games just keep coming. We're making life hard for ourselves. We're not going to give up. It's a great job when you're winning and not so good when you're not. Richy (Richard Howard) has been a big miss. Sometimes you don't miss people until they're not there."

Colney Heath: Blackman, Shuttleworth, Dowling, Gerber, Lacey (Paratusic 69), Jordan (Stevens 74), Parratt, Deacon, Donoghue, Clarke, Roberts (Jackman 55). Subs not used: Hathaway.