Ware 0 Brentwood Town 0

04 October 2011

THE finishing touch was the only absentee as Ware held a strong Brentwood Town side to a goalless draw.

The home side defended resolutely and, but for a lack of goalscoring opportunities, might well have nicked all three points against their fancied opponents.

Manager Stuart Nethercott stuck with the same starting line-up from the narrow defeat at home to Leiston three days previously.

There was a paucity of chances in the opening stages of the game, although Brentwood’s Ryan Edgar sent a right-footed free kick over the bar on 15 minutes.

Three minutes later, Ware goalkeeper Rhys Madden made an awkward save with his left hand to keep out a quickfire effort from Andy Tomlinson. Despite his body travelling the other way, the goalkeeper got his left glove to the ball to spoon it away.

Danny Dafter’s shot through a crowded Ware penalty area stung Madden’s palms on 34 minutes, while at the other end, Ricci Crace flicked a header wide after Jack Friend lofted a free kick forward from inside his own half.

Ware’s best chance of the match arrived two minutes into first half stoppage time. A cross from the left by Tom Querry was met by the head of Tony Martin inside the six-yard box, but the big striker’s downward header was not too difficult for Brentwood goalkeeper Elliott Justham to keep out.

UNDER THE LIGHTS: Action from Ware's 0-0 draw against Brentwood Town (PIC: Phil Friend)

Four minutes after the restart, Edgar floated a ball in from the left which dropped onto the top of the bar, although the backpedalling Madden had it covered.

The introduction of James Winchester on the right-hand side caused the visitors some problems, while left winger Aime Blessing turned his marker and curled a shot beyond the far post on 73 minutes.

Ware applied a sustained period of pressure in the closing stages but they could not carve out any clear-cut chances.

They won a free kick on the left side of the 18-yard box after Tomlinson held back Blessing, but the hosts were wasteful if their endeavours from the resulting set piece.

Even with Antony Lane delivering a sequence of long throw-ins from either side of the pitch at the end of the game, the hosts couldn’t breach the Brentwood rearguard.

But the Ware faithful will undoubtedly be pleased at a solid defensive display that yielded a useful point for Stuart Nethercott’s side.

Ware: Rhys Madden, Michael Elliott, Tom Querry, Antony Lane, Jack Friend, Dave Bastian, Danny Hayes (sub: James Winchester, 55), Dan Johnson, Tony Martin (sub: Leigh Rose, 83), Ricci Crace, Aime Blessing. Subs not used: Steve Slade, Stuart Nethercott, Harry Larner.