Romford 3 Ware 2

15 October 2011

LUCKLESS Ware kept themselves in with a chance of snatching a draw from their away match against Romford, but ultimately the hosts put their one-man advantage to good use to claim all three points.

Romford could feasibly have scored an early hatful after a disjointed first half performance by the visitors, but goals from Ricci Crace and Antony Lane kept Ware in with a shout, despite Tony Martin being red-carded in the second period.

Ware missed the verbal encouragement of injured centre-half Jack Friend at the back. The youngster was joined on the sidelines by midfielder James Winchester, forcing boss Stuart Nethercott to shuffle his pack.

Vince Rispoli came back into the starting line-up in defence while his younger brother Laurence, signed from league rivals Cheshunt, made his debut on the right side of midfield. It was the first time the two siblings had lined up in the same senior starting eleven since their time at Evo-Stik Southern League side AFC Hayes two years ago.

Meanwhile, with Aime Blessing away for the weekend, Danny Hayes switched to the left side of midfield, with new signing Barrington Brotherton coming on as a second half substitute.

Poor decision-making and a lack of concentration were the order of the opening exchanges as Ware failed to kick into gear.

It was no surprise when Romford took a sixth minute lead as they found Ware goalkeeper Rhys Madden in No-Man’s Land.

Madden rushed out of his goal to come for a free kick swung over the top of the defence by Paul Kavanagh, but the stopper was nowhere near the ball and Matt Toms headed into an unguarded net from a tight angle at the far post.

Two of Romford’s players escaped the off-side trap and surged forward on 11 minutes, but an excellent covering tackle by right-back Michael Elliott, who had charged across to the left-back position, meant Ware escaped further punishment.

Two minutes later, Elliott dinked a clever ball in to Ricci Crace up front, but the Romford defence held firm to shut the veteran marksman out.

Madden was forced to make a diving save to his right as a long-range shot looked to be creeping inside the far post, while Dan Johnson forced Romford keeper Elliott Anderson into a save at the other end mid-way through the first half.

Romford doubled their lead on 25 minutes when Kavanagh’s free kick was headed in with ease by Nick Reynolds.

Ware pulled a goal back nine minutes later, though, in a move that started with Danny Hayes in possession on the left. His cross-field ball was only partially repelled by the Romford defence, allowing Laurence Rispoli to set his brother Vince free on the right.

The latter heard the call of Crace and delivered a good cross that was flicked over the advancing Romford keeper and into the net by the head of the Ware skipper.

With their tails up, Ware surged forward a minute later with Crace weaving in and out of a plethora of defenders before forcing a save from the home keeper with a rising shot from an acute angle.

However, Romford restored their two-goal advantage in first half stoppage time following a questionable free-kick given against Dave Bastian.

The veteran defender was cautioned for what appeared to be a clean challenge, but unfortunately for Ware their defending from the resulting Kavanagh set piece was casual and Reynolds nodded home his second of the match.

Ware came out fighting in the second period and three minutes after the restart they had pulled a goal back.

Antony Lane’s free kick took a wicked deflection off James Ishmail on its way past keeper Anderson and into the back of the net.

Ware began the pursuit of an equaliser, but their task was made harder ten minutes from time when Tony Martin was given a straight-red card after an altercation with an opponent.

Romford made their advantage in numbers count, seeing out the closing stages with their slender one-goal lead.

Ware: Rhys Madden, Michael Elliott, Tom Querry, Antony Lane (sub: Lewis Taylor, 81), Vince Rispoli, Dave Bastian, Laurence Rispoli (sub: Stuart Nethercott, 89), Dan Johnson, Tony Martin, Ricci Crace, Danny Hayes (sub: Barrington Brotherton, 63). Sub not used: Harry Larner.