Ware 2 Aveley 1

26 January 2011

Without match practice and key players like Matt Turpin and Danny Roles who both had work commitments plus the injured Luke Marshall, Ware looked a little rusty at the start of this friendly encounter.

Some blame for that can also be laid at the door of the Premier Division visitors whose experienced players were having none of our usual ability to cut through defences. In fact it was Aveley who dominated the early proceedings as the home side struggled to find their rhythm.

But find it they did as Aveley started to concede a number of corners and eventually after one passage of pinball play in the visitors’ penalty area Gazmend Dauti was on hand to put the ball in the net via a defender.

Aveley looked dangerous however and Ware were unable to hold the lead for the remaining eight minutes of first half play. Luke Stanley came in from the left to fire low into the net past Mark Virgo in time added by the referee at the end of the half.

There were the inevitable substitutions after half time but apart from bringing in Obey Murefu to have 45 minutes between the posts there were none before Ware regained the lead with Jimmie Berry’s 57th minute goal.

Friendly or not there had been a little tension in the first half, possibly because the Aveley players were seeking to impress their new manager. This boiled over in the second period when Ross Price was kicked after committing a foul and responded in similar fashion. Both players would surely have seen red cards waved in their direction in a competitive match but Mr Aylott calmed the situation and the game ended without further incident.

With just 20 minutes to play Tony Faulkner introduced the first of several younger players from the substitutes’ bench. For a while it looked as though Aveley might exploit their lack of experience but Ware held out to record their first win over the Essex side this century.

Ware: Virgo (Murefu 45mins), Clemo, Kemble (Killingback 77), Price, Sargent (Burton 79), Sam Berry (Dukes 75), Dauti, Megicks, Karagul (Rose 70), Mitchell (Davidson 83), Jimmie Berry. Unused sub: Field