Cheshunt 0 Ware 0
29 August 2011
WARE earned their first point of the season from a goalless yet highly entertaining encounter with local rivals Cheshunt on Bank Holiday Monday.
It was a familiar foe opposite the Blues, with no less than five members of last season’s Ware squad starting for the Ambers following their en-mass move up the A10 in the summer.
Matt Turpin, Chris Sargent and Dan Roles were all part of a five-man defensive partnership for the hosts, but it was their rearguard colleague and Cheshunt mainstay Glen Parry who saved the Ambers from defeat with a last-gasp header off the line in added time after a shot by Danny Johnson looked destined to find the back of the net.
Ware’s own defence looked impressive with Vince Rispoli comfortably moving across into his more familiar centre-half role to make way for the returning Dave Bastian on the left.
Both men put in assured performances, as did skipper Jon Stevenson, who excelled after being moved into central midfield.
Leigh Rose was given a starting place alongside Ricci Crace up front, while Darrelle Russell came in on the right.
Ware were quickest out of the blocks on a sunny yet slightly breezy afternoon, with Jon Stevenson forcing an early low save from Ambers goalkeeper Joe Wright with a free kick.
At the other end, ex-Ware striker Ryan Wade won a free-kick 25 yards away from goal and forced a spectacular diving save from Ware custodian Obey Murefu to keep the ball out of the top corner.
Stevenson again tested Wright on the 15-minute mark after Jordan Bostock had fed him from the right-hand side, before former Ware midfielder Sam Ruff coaxed another good save from Murefu after an attack down the right.
DETERMINED: Ware's Jordan Bostock battles Dan Roles (PIC: Phil Friend)
Ware might have taken the lead on 18 minutes when Danny Johnson played an excellent through ball for Leigh Rose, but when Ricci Crace took possession instead, the veteran forward was in an off-side position and the linesman’s flag was duly raised.
A minute later, Darrelle Russell cut in from the right and had two shots blocked inside a crowded Ambers 18-yard box.
On 26 minutes, the lively Tom Querry played a give-and-go with Crace, only to fire his shot into the side-netting.
THAT'S MINE: Ricci Crace and Leigh Rose race to beat an Ambers player to the ball (PIC: Phil Friend)
Cheshunt’s best chance of the first half fell to Sam Ruff on 34 minutes. The midfield workhorse embarked on a mazy run before getting into a shooting position with just the keeper to beat, but he was denied by not one but two excellent blocks from Murefu.
Three minutes after half-time, Danny Johnson’s flicked header from Bostock’s cross forced Wright to back-pedal to tip the ball away.
Shortly afterwards at the other end, Ambers danger man Chris Meikle unleashed his blistering pace on centre-backs Vince Rispoli and Jack Friend in separate attacks. But the defensive twosome stood firm and despite Meikle going to ground on both occasions, the referee saw no infringements and signalled for play to continue.
For Ware, Johnson’s pot-shot from 30 yards was spilled by Wright on 71 minutes, but the keeper recovered quickly enough to prevent the ball from trickling over the goalline.
A minute later, Jon Stevenson’s through ball put Leigh Rose in behind the defence, and after running clear of former team-mate Matt Turpin, the youngster was unlucky to see his shot saved by the Cheshunt keeper.
As the game drew to a close, Cheshunt substitute Kevin Ashwood skied a ball way over the bar, while Ware’s Tom Querry fired straight at keeper Wright.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Ware were desperately unlucky not to steal the win when Danny Johnson ran onto a loose ball in midfield and lobbed the keeper, only to see Glen Parry head the ball off the line.
Ware: Obey Murefu, Jordan Bostock, Dave Bastian, Jack Friend, Jon Stevenson, Vince Rispoli, Darrelle Russell (sub, Jimmy Martin, 82), Danny Johnson, Leigh Rose, Ricci Crace (sub: Ben Andreos, 73), Tom Querry. Subs not used: Ted Clark, Bradley Wilkinson, Bert Greenwood (GK).
