Ware 1 Waltham Abbey 3
23 August 2011
WARE gifted three points to rivals Waltham Abbey in their first home game of the new season in a disappointing capitulation which started on the stroke of half-time.
After taking the lead in an encouraging first half, the visitors were gifted an equaliser just before the interval, with two own goals in the second period allowing Abbey to claim an arguably undeserved victory.
Ware boss Stuart Nethercott made two changes to the side that lost to Grays in Saturday’s curtain-raiser, with Obey Murefu restored to goalkeeping duties and Bradley Wilkinson making his full debut on the right wing in place of the injured Darrelle Russell, who dropped to the bench.
The opening exchanges could be described as exploratory on the part of both sides, with Ware’s first opening arriving in the 23rd minute.
Ricci Crace delivered a well-placed cross from the right side of the box, but Ben Andreos slipped and failed to connect with the ball as the goalmouth gaped in front of him.
Four minutes later, Bradley Wilkinson accelerated down the right and crossed the ball in, but an Abbey defender just nicked it off Denny Webb’s toe to stamp out what would have been a great goalscoring opportunity.
Then, following a corner, Jon Stevenson’s low shot was saved by ex-Ware keeper Harry Ricketts at the expense of another flag kick.
At the other end, keeper Obey Murefu made a brilliant two-handed diving save to keep out a header from Abbey’s Steve Cawley on 32 minutes.
It was Ware who took the lead five minutes later when Ben Andreos latched onto a long ball out of the defence which had been helped on its way by Crace. Andreos took the ball onto his right foot, composed himself and slotted low past the keeper to make it 1-0.
However, on the stroke of half-time, the Abbotts were gifted an equaliser. It was a comedy of errors as several Ware defenders failed to clear a ball in from the left, and after Denny Webb missed the final chance to hook the ball away at the back post, Louis Bristow pounced to shoot inside the near post.
Two minutes after the break, Murefu made a comfortable take from a long-range Tom Laxton strike, but proceedings were held up soon after following a foul on Ware striker Crace just outside Abbey’s area.
After taking an age to settle the defensive wall, the referee spotted an infringement by a Ware player just in front of the wall as the set piece was taken and awarded a free kick to the visitors.
A scuffle ensued, which resulted in Webb and Danny Johnson being cautioned, while Ibrahim Conteh, who had been booked in the first half for a foul on Andreos, escaped with a warning.
PIC: Phil Friend
On 63 minutes, Murefu made a great block to deny the onrushing Ayrton Coley in a one-on-one situation.
But he and his team mates had no such joy in the 78th minute as a cross from the left by substitute Luke Webster caused havoc in the box and resulted in the ball going into the net off the chest of hastily retreating Ware defender Vince Rispoli.
Jimmy Martin, one half of a double changed made by Ware just after Abbey’s second goal, sent in a cross at the other end, but Andreos glanced a header wastefully wide.
The win was sealed for the Abbotts four minutes from time when miscommunication between defender Jack Friend and onrushing goalkeeper Murefu resulted in Friend inadvertently heading the ball over his own keeper and into the net.
Ware: Obey Murefu, Michael Elliott (sub: Jimmy Martin, 80), Vince Rispoli, Ted Clark, Jon Stevenson, Jack Friend, Bradley Wilkinson, Danny Johnson, Ben Andreos, Ricci Crace, Denny Webb (sub: Leigh Rose, 80). Subs not used: Tom Querry, Darrelle Russell, Bert Greenwood (GK).
