Hadley 0 Ware 1

27 July 2011

A SECOND half strike by Marcus Sammons gave Stuart Nethercott his first win as manager of Ware at Spartan South Midlands League side Hadley on Tuesday.

With a group of senior players training back at Wodson Park with first team coach Gary Allan, Nethercott used the match to take a look at a number of fringe players and trialists, although there was a place at centre-back for returning holidaymaker Jack Friend, who skippered the side for the evening.

Following an early hold-up due to a knee injury sustained by Nathaniel Hibbert, Ware’s Perry Christian beat the advancing Hadley keeper in a race to win a high ball out of the Ware defence, but the midfielder saw his lob drop wide of the post on 10 minutes.

Hadley broke away three minutes later but their attacker dragged his effort wide of Dominic Colman’s right-hand upright.

Mid-way through the first half, Herve Malimabue seized possession in midfield and struck a low shot towards goal, but it was a comfortable take for the Hadley custodian.

Ware’s best move of the first half came on 36 minutes when Malimabue fed John Powles on the right, who subsequently lofted a pinpoint cross into the box where Leigh Rose glanced a header just wide.

Rose was unlucky not to connect properly when he latched onto a long pass from Friend and tried his luck with the outside of his boot on 55 minutes, although the young attacker had a hand in Ware’s goal three minutes later.

Christian’s attack down the right saw the ball slid in to Rose, who set up Marcus Sammons to turn and shoot low past the Hadley keeper.

Just after the hour mark, Sammons’ up-and-under header from Rose’s cross was somehow clawed off the line by the home side’s diving stopper as Ware sought to increase their lead.

The hosts failed to notably trouble Ware keeper Dominic Colman in the closing stages as the visitors held on to claim victory.

Ware: Colman, Powles, Lyons, Friend, Rispoli, Malimabue, Rose, Patterson, Hibbert, Sammons, Christian. Subs: Southam, Harvey, Ayling.