A header from Ashley Kersey 10 minutes from time preserved Welwyn Garden City’s unbeaten home record in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division as they grabbed a 1-1 draw with Tring Athletic.

Since they claimed the title a week ago, the Citizens have lost their edge slightly and were nowhere near their best against a Tring side who have just about pulled clear of relegation in the last few games.

They were clearly second best in a poor first-half, in which Tring took the lead through a disputed 28th-minute penalty.

The referee decided Jon Sexton had handled a Max Hercules cross from the left wing, while the City players and supporters felt it had struck the full-back on the chest.

So incensed were some of the WGC players there was even a booking for substitute Nick Elliott for a remark made to the linesman.

Tring’s Sam Joliffe remained calm throughout, though, and sent WGC keeper Olly Leslie the wrong way with the spot-kick.

Leslie then began to take centre stage late in the half, making a string of fine saves and blocks to keep the Herns Lane side in it, most notably from Chris Vardy and Luke Little.

City also had a huge let-off as Joe Fitzgerald fired wildly over after pouncing on a loose ball.

The Clarets did look better at the start of the second half and had the ball in the Tring net three minutes after the restart. But Sexton was again adjudged to have handled when controlling a high ball and although the subsequent cross was turned in by Ben Spaul, it did not count.

Manager Adam Fisher introduced Elliott, Josh Bronti and Charlie Joy around the hour mark and Joy in particular had something of an impact.

He sent a curling free-kick round the wall but off the post moments after Jay Rolfe headed straight at the keeper.

But the equaliser did comet, Bronti sending a high ball into the box which saw Kersey outjump the Tring defence and loop it over Lewis Todd.

There was still a chance of a WGC winner but a 20-yard strike from Sexton was pushed away.

WGC travelled to Harpenden Town last night (Tuesday) in a preview of next week’s Dudley Latham Memorial Cup final.