Ware 3 Billericay Town 0
10 August 2011
STRIKERS Ben Andreos and Ricci Crace opened their respective Ware accounts for the season as Stuart Nethercott’s men notched their biggest win of the pre-season campaign so far.
Defender Vince Rispoli also got in on the act as Ware outplayed a Billericay side that is normally comfortably at home in the Ryman Premier Division.
The match was arranged at short notice after St Margaretsbury were forced to pull out of the scheduled friendly on Tuesday evening.
Ware chief Nethercott experimented with a new formation after last weekend’s goalless wonder at Hertford, adopting a 4-5-1 shape for the start of the game.
In only the third minute, a fierce Jon Stevenson free kick was deflected out for a corner after a foul on Ted Clark by former Ware midfielder Sam Berry, who was in the visitors’ starting line-up.
From Tom Querry’s resulting corner, Billericay goalkeeper George Tsmaris appeared to punch the ball back down towards his own goal-line, forcing defender James Hawes to hack it clear and prevent an own-goal.
PIC: Phil Friend
Mid-way through the first half the home side took the lead. The determined Danny Johnson seized possession in midfield and surged forward before sending Ben Andreos clear on the left. The striker made no mistake as he let fly with a left-footed effort that went inside the far post.
Ware could have increased their lead on 37 minutes when Querry played a delightful one-two with Clark and clipped a left-footed effort towards goal, but he could only watch as the ball flew marginally wide of the back stick.
PIC: Phil Friend
Ware keeper Obey Murefu made a low save to deny Ryan Marriott four minutes after half-time, before Andreos was twice denied by the Billericay keeper in quick succession after being played in by Johnson.
Andreos was promptly replaced by Ricci Crace, who helped himself to a goal within two minutes of his introduction.
Defender Vince Rispoli sent a long ball over the top to Crace, who composed himself before firing a superb right-footed half-volley into the net from outside the area on the right on 58 minutes.
It was 3-0 on 70 minutes as a bullet cross from Jimmy Martin on the right following a corner was headed home by Rispoli at the back post.
Following a ball into the area by substitute Cedric Kayembe, Crace was left frustrated as he saw two close-range efforts charged down as a result of some frantic Billericay defending.
Keeper Murefu was forced to make a save to keep out Berry’s free kick on 79 minutes, although the Zimbabwean stopper could only watch six minutes later as Tony Martin’s looping effort from out on the left wing went up and over him, only to strike the top of the bar.
Ware: Obey Murefu, Michael Elliott (sub: Jimmy Martin, 63), Vince Rispoli, Shane Branch-Gilkes (sub: Leigh Rose, 63), Jon Stevenson (sub: Dave Bastian, 45), Jack Friend, Darrelle Russell, Danny Johnson (sub: Bradley Wilkinson, 63), Ted Clark, Ben Andreos (sub: Ricci Crace, 56), Tom Querry (sub: Cedric Kayembe, 63).
