Harlow Town 1 Ware 1
25 April 2011
WARE’S final away game of the 2010/11 season saw Emiel Aiken net his second goal in as many games as the Blues held promotion hopefuls and bitter rivals Harlow Town to a 1-1 draw.
The result saw the club’s unbeaten run extend into a fourth game in front of a bumper crowd of 345 at Barrows Farm on Easter Monday.
Only a dead rubber against already promoted East Thurrock United remains for Tony Faulkner’s men in what has been an exceptional end to a season of mixed fortunes.
The unavailability of left-back Rob Kemble meant assistant boss Martin Southall – taking charge with Faulkner on holiday – had to shuffle his pack.
Jimmie Berry dropped back to play at left back, with Aiken switching to the left side of midfield in his place.
Aiken’s previous spot on the right was taken by Davie Edmee, who made his first start for Ware, with Lee Protheroe also brought into the starting line-up in the centre of the park.
It took Ware, clad in their white third choice strip, only four minutes to break the deadlock. A cross from Matt Mitchell was knocked home by Aiken from close range with the Harlow defenders on another planet.
Edmee went through on two separate occasions as Ware sought to increase their lead, but he missed the target both times.
At the back, Ware keeper Obey Murefu had to be on his guard after the half-hour mark as Harlow fashioned a handful of chances, but failed to breach the visitors’ resistance.
STRIKE: Ware goalkeeper Obey Murefu takes a free kick (PICTURE: Phil Friend)
Five minutes before the interval, Ware had their best move of the game when Matt Mitchell played a give-and-go with Joe Clemo but fired over the bar after taking the return ball.
On 72 minutes, the equaliser arrived for the Hawks.
Harlow’s Bertie Brayley latched onto a through ball by ex-Ware winger and Hawks substitute Luke Marshall, but referee Ashvin Degnarain adjudged Clemo to have fouled the attacker and awarded a penalty.
Harlow skipper Danny Brown gave Murefu no chance from the spot.
HEADS UP: Matt Mitchell heads the ball as Harlow's Luke Marshall (14) looks on (PICTURE: Phil Friend)
Ware centre-halves Chris Sargent and Jack Friend combined well to repel the home side’s attacks as they went in search of a winner.
Murefu was forced to make a number of saves, while at the other end, a Matt Mitchell shot went close.
Ware’s Matt Turpin came off the bench a minute from time for a cameo appearance, having been out injured for a number of weeks.
Harlow had a series of corners late in the game which the Ware defence dealt with, while Ryan Wade went through in added time for the visitors but fired wide of James Hasell’s goal.
Ware: Obey Murefu, Joe Clemo, Jimmie Berry, Jack Friend, Chris Sargent, Daryl Mitchell, Davie Edmee (sub: Matt Turpin, 89), Lee Protheroe (sub: Sam Berry, 74), Ryan Wade, Matt Mitchell, Emiel Aiken. Subs not used: Herve Malimabue, Leigh Rose.
