Ware 2 Harlow Town 2
16 March 2011
WARE seemed happier with their point than Harlow did after the two sides battled it out in a dramatic local derby at Wodson Park.
The fiery contest, which both teams had chances to win, was momentarily held up in the closing stages when two floodlight pylons tripped out, leaving some areas of the pitch in partial darkness.
The game was overshadowed by a suspected fractured ankle sustained by Ware’s Fred Dooling just 18 minutes in.
Dooling, who started his second consecutive game in an unfamiliar centre-half role alongside Lee Protheroe, was taken to hospital after an innocuous challenge with a Harlow player.
His replacement, Chris Sargent, had a good game while Emiel Aiken, restored to a lone striker’s role, caused the Hawks some problems in attack.
Chris Sargent defends a Harlow attack (Picture: Gary Lockwood)
In the middle of the park, Sam Berry played his first game for a month after completing a four-match suspension, while Sam Ruff’s late arrival meant he was named as one of five outfield substitutes for the hosts.
Harlow seized the upper hand early on when Lee Roache pounced to fire past Obey Murefu after just four minutes when he was put through by ex-Eastbourne Borough player Danny Brown – not to be confused with fellow defender Daniel R Brown.
Dooling then limped off in the 18th minute, before Ware stunned the previously audible Harlow fans into silence with an equaliser on the half-hour mark.
Luke Marshall crossed to Dan Roles, who smashed the ball past Harlow keeper James Hasell from inside the area.
Five minutes before the break, Murefu was called upon to make a fine save to deny Harlow’s Steve Ferguson.
Both sides had chances in the second half, but it was advantage Ware on 75 minutes when Danny Brown upended Luke Marshall in the area and Matt Mitchell fired the resulting spot kick low past Hasell.
Ware later lost centre-half Lee Protheroe with a back problem. Sam Ruff came off the bench, with Dan Roles acting as a makeshift centre-half, a task he undertook with distinction in the recent draw with Redbridge.
Harlow made it all square on 80 minutes when Dave Cowley found Roache, who slid home his second goal of the game.
Shortly afterwards, play was held up for around five minutes when two of the floodlight pylons at the ground tripped out. Ironically, a similar fate befell the league fixture between the two sides at Harlow’s Barrows Farm stadium last season.
Following discussions with all concerned, the match officials agreed that there was still sufficient light to continue with the game, and the faulty lamps soon lit up again.
Harlow substitute James Peagram saw a good chance go begging, while in the last minute of normal time, a searching cross from Ware substitute Daryl Mitchell meant Harlow stopper Hasell had to race out of his goal and beat away the aerial invasion just ahead of the prowling Emiel Aiken.
Ware: Obey Murefu, Joe Clemo, Rob Kemble, Lee Protheroe (sub: Sam Ruff, 78), Fred Dooling (sub: Chris Sargent, 18), Sam Berry, Luke Marshall, Jimmie Berry (sub: Daryl Mitchell, 85), Emiel Aiken, Matt Mitchell, Dan Roles. Subs not used: Ryan Wade, John Megicks.
