Leverstock Green maintained their unbeaten away league record as they came away with a point from an evenly-contested Dacorum derby at Tring Athletic. It was a full-blooded affair with some strong challenges coming in from both sides, one of which led to former Green player Matt Jarvis being stretchered off with a bad leg injury.

The Green had a debutant at left-back in Dean Kemp, and midfielder James Attfield starting for the first time. They started the game well, and had a chance with just over a minute played. Adiel Mannion got to the bye-line and pulled the ball back for Tobi Akin, who couldn't get a shot in, but Brad Wadkins had an effort from the loose ball which was deflected wide.

However, it was Tring who took an early lead. Connor Smith floated in a free kick from near the halfway line, and Vinnie Iannone got on the end of it with a looping header over keeper Tom Coulton to score his customary goal against the Green.

Leverstock went close again in the 10th minute when Akin's shot was saved after a run at goal, but a minute later at the other end the ball was given away to Stewart King, who shot across goal and just wide.

The equaliser came in the 27th minute, when a free kick was floated in from the right touchline. Adam Hallissey won the ball in the air, and Akin won a second headed challenge before the ball dropped for Wadkins, who had his back to goal but improvised with a cheeky backheel from six yards that left home keeper Adam Robinson standing still.

Tring had already made one injury-forced substitution, and they had to make another two minutes before the break when Iannone came off worst from a tackle for which he got a yellow card.

There was little to choose between the sides in the second half either. Tring had a chance on 50 minutes when King made a run down the right and put the ball across goal, with substitute Reon Thomas somehow failing to convert from close range. Just after the hour Hallissey played it out wide to Wadkins, who put in a great cross that Akin slid in to meet, but didn't get enough of a touch on to divert home.

The injury to Jarvis came midway through the half in a challenge with Hallissey. Jarvis went in two-footed, but Hallissey's boot came in late and led to Jarvis being stretchered off in some pain.

Both sides had chances to win the game. On 71 minutes Kris Tyrell hit a shot just wide, and on 79 minutes Wadkins shot into the side netting. Coulton pulled off a great save to keep out a shot from King on 84 minutes, but the best chance of all fell to Leverstock a minute later, and it could have been a fairytale first team debut for reserve team top scorer Craig Sharples, who had only been on the field ten minutes. A great ball put Marvin Tabi away down the right, and as he approached the box he had the option of crossing for Akin, but instead opted to pull the ball back for Sharples, who was better-placed, but hit his shot inches over the bar.

A draw was a fair result from the game in the end, and leaves Leverstock still in the top half of the table. Next Saturday they face another tough home match when free-scoring Oxhey Jets are the visitors to Pancake Lane.