Brentwood Town 1 Ware 0
22 January 2012
AN early goal from Steve Butterworth was all that separated the sides as Ware’s unbeaten start to 2012 came to an end in blustery Essex.
Butterworth, known in Non-League circles as ‘Scouse’, confidently put the ball away 12 minutes into the contest, although there was an element of controversy surrounding the goal as loud music inexplicably blared out of the Brentwood tannoy in the build-up to the goal, serving as an unwelcome distraction for the Ware defence.
Ware boss Stuart Nethercott made a slight change to the side that drew 1-1 at Leiston two weeks previously, with Glen Parry making an assured debut at left-back following his move from Cheshunt.
To accommodate Parry, youngster Tom Querry was moved forward into a left wing role.
The first half, played amid a blustery wind, largely belonged to Brentwood as Ware struggled to kick into gear following their weather-enforced two-week break from match action.
Brentwood danger man Dean Green clipped a rising shot just over the bar when running away from goal in the third minute, before the hosts took the lead nine minutes later.
Butterworth surged down the left and slotted past Ware goalkeeper Rhys Madden from a tight angle.
Two minutes later, Brentwood’s Emmanuel Osei caught a glimpse of goal and let fly with a low shot, but a heroic diving tackle by debutant Parry saw the ball deflected out for a corner.
Ware’s best chance of the first half arrived on 17 minutes when Kieran Weekes’ floated corner just evaded the rising gloves of Brentwood keeper Elliott Justham at his near post and dropped into a crowded area. Dan Johnson controlled the ball before getting a low shot away, but Justham recovered to smother the ball low to his right on the goal line.
At the other end, Butterworth shook off Vince Rispoli after a Brentwood break, but the home midfielder fired wide of the near post.
Green somehow missed an open goal from no more than two yards out on the half-hour mark, wildly spooning the ball over the top after a low ball in from Butterworth.
Ware emerged for the second half with a new-found sense of optimism. Aime Blessing came off the bench to occupy a right wing role, with Liam Foster dropping back to right-back in place of the substituted Michael Elliott.
With the wind at their backs, the hosts took the game to Brentwood, although it was the hosts who had the next real chance.
Ware keeper Madden came out early to partially block an effort from Butterworth, but the midfielder collected the ball again close to the byline and clipped it high into the six yard box, only for Osei to head wide of the near post as Madden just about arrived back on his line.
Frustration began to kick in among the Ware players, with Ricci Crace and Kieran Weekes both cautioned for dissent within four minutes of each other.
Ware saw a glorious chance go begging from one of a number of free kicks awarded to them in the opposition third. The ball was floated in towards the back post, and had Wesley Beckles managed to get his head to the ball a goal would have almost certainly been the result, but the big centre-half failed to connect with it and the ball went out for a goal kick.
From another free kick, Ryan Mattos shot narrowly over the bar, while a long-range drive from substitute Michael Akande also sailed just over the top as the game entered its latter stages.
Ware: Rhys Madden, Michael Elliott (sub: Aime Blessing, 45), Glen Parry, Kieran Weekes, Wesley Beckles, Vince Rispoli, Liam Foster, Dan Johnson, Ryan Mattos (sub: Michael Akande, 86), Ricci Crace, Tom Querry (sub: Junior Adeoye, 74). Subs not used: Dave Bastian, Danny Hayes.
