Ware 0 Leiston 1
01 October 2011
A SECOND-half strike by Michael Brothers proved to be all that separated the sides as Ware narrowly lost out to Leiston in a tight match at Wodson Park that could have gone either way.
Ware couldn’t muster as many chances at they did at Great Wakering Rovers on Tuesday night, although the fact that it was the hottest October day in recorded history cannot have helped.
Boss Stuart Nethercott made one change from the line-up that faced Wakering, with Danny Hayes coming in on the right side of midfield for James Winchester, whose place on the bench was subsequently taken by debutant Harry Larner after the young winger pulled up injured in the warm-up.
Neither side managed to test the opposing goalkeeper until mid-way through the first half. Angelo Harrop’s free kick was headed wide at the far post by Michael Brothers after a foul by Michael Elliott led to the free kick being conceded.
Ten minutes later, following a corner, Danny Smy sliced his left-footed volley up in the air, before firing wide at the second attempt as the ball was on the way down.
ON THE BALL: Ware's Aime Blessing takes on Leiston (PIC: Ian Bush)
Two minutes later, following a quick throw-in, Lee McGlone headed the ball into the path of Harrop, whose fierce drive was expertly palmed away by Ware keeper Rhys Madden.
The second half was barely two minutes old when Harrop fired into the side netting from close range as Ware continued to frustrate their visitors.
Madden made a save to deny Brothers with a shot from the left-hand side of the field, but on 59 minutes, the Leiston attacker got the better of the goalkeeper with a shot into the far bottom corner of the net after Ware’s attempts to spring the off-side trap went without success.
At the other end, Ricci Crace angled a header wide of the far post on 62 minutes from Tom Querry’s in-swinging left-footed free kick, before Antony Lane’s up-and-under header was cleared off the line by a defender after it sailed over the head of goalkeeper Nathan Munson.
KEEPING POSESSION: Ware's Antony Lane holds off a defender (PIC: Ian Bush)
Both managers made changes in the latter stages of the game, but Ware were unable to find an equaliser.
Ware: Rhys Madden, Michael Elliott, Tom Querry, Antony Lane (sub: Leigh Rose, 77), Jack Friend, Dave Bastian, Danny Hayes (sub: Harry Larner, 57), Dan Johnson, Tony Martin (sub: Steve Slade, 81), Ricci Crace, Aime Blessing. Subs not used: Vince Rispoli, Obey Murefu (GK).
