Ware 0 Chipstead 1
08 October 2011
INJURY-hit Ware saw their interest in this year’s FA competitions vanish in an uninspiring 1-0 defeat to Ryman League Division One South visitors Chipstead.
A scrappy sixth minute goal from Marcus Elliot was all that separated the sides as Ware failed to score for the third consecutive game.
With defenders Jordan Bostock and Vince Rispoli already sidelined through injury, Jack Friend failed a late fitness test after taking a knock in Tuesday’s goalless draw against Brentwood Town.
This meant central midfielder Dan Johnson stood in at centre-half alongside Dave Bastian, while Antony Lane started in his preferred right-back position.
Lewis Taylor came back into the midfield after missing the last three games due to a holiday, while Harry Larner also got his first start.
Leigh Rose was given a much called-for start up front in place of Tony Martin, who was ineligible for the match under the terms of his loan from Billericay Town.
Chipstead might have taken the lead inside the opening 60 seconds were it not for a stroke of luck for the home side. Elliot got in behind the defence but his first touch let him down and after goalkeeper Rhys Madden got a hand to his low shot, Dave Bastian was able to put the ball behind for a corner.
Elliot opened the scoring on six minutes after a mistake at the back. Elliot beat full-back Antony Lane after an attack down Chipstead’s left and after Dan Johnson failed to clear his lines, the big striker bundled the ball in from close range.
At the other end, Aime Blessing set Leigh Rose free but the young striker’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Martin Grant. The rebound fell to Rose, but he fired wide.
On 35 minutes Ware had another good chance when, after Danny Hayes played a short corner to Tom Querry, the ball was floated into the box but Dan Johnson’s header at the back post was angled down at the ground without posing a real threat.
Two minutes later, Rose found Danny Hayes in midfield, the latter composing himself before trying his luck from long range, only to see the ball dip wide of the post.
Four minutes before the interval, Andrew Dalhouse beat Lane down Chipstead’s left and shot towards goal, but the outstretched foot of Bastian denied him at the expense of a corner.
Both sides made changes in the opening stages of the second period.
Just before the hour mark, Querry cleared the ball off his own line after a goalmouth scramble, before Ware keeper Rhys Madden palmed away a rising shot from Elliot mid-way through the half.
Ten minutes from time, Madden made an excellent save to deny Dalhouse after the Chipstead attacker had got the better of Johnson.
Ware boss Stuart Nethercott came on to support his strikers in the closing stages as the hosts searched for a leveller, but with Ware struggling to get the ball into the area, the final whistle signalled the end of the club’s FA Trophy involvement for another year.
Ware: Rhys Madden, Antony Lane (sub: Michael Elliott, 52), Tom Querry, Lewis Taylor (sub: Steve Slade, 68), Dan Johnson, Dave Bastian, Danny Hayes, Harry Larner (sub: Stuart Nethercott, 88), Leigh Rose, Ricci Crace, Aime Blessing. Subs not used: Jack Friend, James Winchester.
