Romford 3 Ware 0
05 February 2011
THIS was the kind of game you would want to forget as Ware continued to search for the fluency that characterised their play until recently. Up against a strong wind in the first half they had the chance to recover in the second only to let poor discipline mar their opportunity. Maybe there are some lessons at least to be remembered from a disappointing afternoon.
Though not apparent from the sidelines there was a strong wind blowing the length of the pitch and there was evidence of this in Ware's clearances and goal kicks which failed to make much headway. Romford made the most of this in the first half and generally kept the pressure on the visitors. Even so it was a harsh free kick decision which led to the opening goal with Sam Ruff being penalised on the edge of the penalty area after winning a header against a static Romford forward.
Ware were slow to set up their wall in response to Obey Murefu's promptings and maybe it was this that allowed Paul Kavanagh's excellent free kick to elude them and the 'keeper's dive. But it was no less than the home side deserved.
There were more scares for Ware as the half progressed but towards the break they mounted a number of attacks which might have brought an equaliser with Ryan Wade flashing a shot past the post and a Danny Roles cross from the goal line being diverted for a corner at the last moment. There was just about enough in this to suggest that a one goal deficit could be recovered in the second half but with everyone including the referee checking their watches for the break Kurt Smith took advantage of the wind to unleash a great shot into the top corner of Murefu's goal to make Ware's task look just that bit more difficult.
Ware had much more of the game in the second period when it was their turn to take advantage of the wind. They might also have had a man advantage four minutes in when Richard Oxby's foul on Murat Karagul was rightly punished with a red card. But with the red card came the red mist and Sam Berry also got his marching orders for some blatant retaliation.
In an effort to claw back a goal Ware went to three at the back with Alwayne Powell coming on at the expense of Chris Sargent and were only made to pay for this four minutes from the end of normal time when Petrit Elbi made it three for Romford by turning in a cross after a break away. Both before and after that Ware had had chances to score with one point blank shot being turned over the bar by Adam Rafis who had a very good game for the home side and Powell seeing one deft lob go just over and then being denied by a post.
Ware: Murefu, Clemo, J Berry, Sargent (Powell 62mins), Turpin, S Berry, Marshall, Ruff (Price 70mins), Karagul, Wade, Roles (Kemble 75mins). Unused subs: Dauti, Sonner
Goalkeeper Danny Sonner and defender Joe Clemo show off the new third shirts before setting off on Saturday
