Hertford Town 0 Ware 0
06 August 2011
WARE failed to turn possession into goals as the highly-anticipated local derby at Hertford Town ended without score on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors sent a strong side out to start the contest, with former Bishop’s Stortford goalkeeper Bert Greenwood between the sticks once again.
Dave Bastian returned to the centre of defence to partner skipper Jon Stevenson, with Jack Friend playing at right-back for the second game in a row.
The Hertford keeper had his palms stung by a Ricci Crace effort from outside the box after just three minutes, following good work by Davie Edmee and Darrelle Russell.
Left-winger Tom Querry then skied an effort over the bar after Crace teed him up following Edmee’s right-wing cross, while Querry missed another chance on 12 minutes when he fired just wide of the post after Crace had set him free in the area.
Ware seemed to have the majority of possession in the opening stages, but when Hertford did venture forward with an advance down the left, Dave Bastian was there to shepherd the ball away to safety.
Crace headed wide from Jack Friend’s lofted cross on 17 minutes, before a defensive header by Bastian kept Hertford at bay at the opposite end.
Ware’s Danny Johnson went close with a half-volley, while Querry was again frustrated as his attempts to break the deadlock with a low shot went unfulfilled.
In the closing stages of the first half, Ware had keeper Greenwood to thank for an excellent save as he dived to his right following a quickly-taken free kick by the hosts.
By the 55th minute, Ware had introduced seven new players, but it was Hertford who had the first noteworthy chance of the second period as substitute goalkeeper Ashley Harris was forced to beat the ball away following a free kick conceded by Friend, who had switched to a central-defensive role.
THAT'S MINE: Ben Andreos in action against Hertford (PIC: Phil Friend)
Ben Andreos forced the Hertford keeper to make a fingertip save low to his right on the hour mark, before a Denny Webb free kick following a foul on Teddy Clark proved an easy take for the home custodian.
Hertford had an aerial chance on 78 minutes following a corner, but the effort went wide and Ware saw out the rest of the game with neither side seriously threatening to score.
Ware: Bert Greenwood (sub: Ashley Harris, 45), Jack Friend, Denny Webb, Shane Branch-Gilkes (sub: Teddy Clark, 55), Jon Stevenson (sub: Vince Rispoli, 55), Dave Bastian (sub: Michael Elliott, 55), Davie Edmee (sub: Leigh Rose, 45), Danny Johnson, Ricci Crace, Darrelle Russell (sub: Ben Andreos, 45), Tom Querry (sub: Cedric Kayembe, 55).
