Ware 0 Needham Market 2
17 December 2011
THE statistics show that Ware matched Needham Market in all areas on Saturday, but it was the visitors who escaped with the points thanks to two first half goals.
Both sides got away eight shots apiece during the contest, four of which were on target, while the home side made Needham defend for their lives in the second period.
But despite an excellent team performance from Ware, the home side were unable to beat Andrew Plummer in Needham’s goal.
Newly-signed right back Liam Foster impressed on his debut, while Kieran Weekes flourished in an attacking role just behind Ryan Mattos.
Early in the game, Needham’s Danny Thrower fizzed a rising shot just over the corner of the bar and the post, while Ware’s Dave Bastian was cautioned for a tough challenge on Luke Wade.
The visitors opened the scoring with a bizarre goal on 11 minutes. Angelo Harrop’s right-footed free kick took a deflection off the Ware defensive wall and looped high into the air before dropping just inside the far post when it first appeared to be going wide.
Ware responded immediately with Aime Blessing surging forward into the box, but he was robbed of the ball at his feet by the onrushing Needham keeper.
The visitors made it 2-0 on 27 minutes. James Evans sent a long clearance up the field, but Danny Thrower saw his chance and seized on the ball, teeing himself up and firing past Ware keeper Rhys Madden, who made himself big in his area, with the ball nestling into the far bottom corner of the net.
Danny Bloomfield fired over the bar for Needham as the first half came to an end.
The start of the second half was delayed by some 10 minutes after referee Mr Kelly was taken ill in his changing room during the interval.
One of his assistants, Mr Yates, took over in the middle with Ware’s kit and equipment supervisor Kevin Kuhn running one of the lines to enable the match to continue.
ALERT: Kieran Weekes in action against Needham Market (PIC: Ian Bush)
Eight minutes into the second period, Dan Johnson forced Needham keeper Andrew Plummer to back-pedal and tip the ball over the bar following a quick-fire left-footed effort from long-range.
On 69 minutes Needham’s Danny Bloomfield produced a good stop from Madden after a counter-attack from the visitors, while at the other end, Kieran Weekes turned and fired just wide of the far post.
The second of two free kicks in quick succession from Weekes coaxed a stop from Plummer at the expense of a corner on 85 minutes, while the visiting custodian was called into action again four minutes later.
Following a cross-field surge from substitute Tony Martin, Blessing struck a right-footed curler which was expertly tipped away by the left hand of the diving Needham keeper to prevent Ware from scoring.
IN POSESSION: Ryan Mattos in attack (PIC: Ian Bush)
Weekes had one more crack at goal in the second minute of stoppage time, his long-range right-footed effort shaving the top of the bar as it went over the top.
Ware: Rhys Madden, Liam Foster, Vince Rispoli, Junior Adeoye (sub: Tony Martin, 59), Wesley Beckles, Dave Bastian, Kieran Weekes, Dan Johnson, Ryan Mattos, Ricci Crace, Aime Blessing. Subs not used: Michael Elliott, Stuart Nethercott, Tom Querry, Kain Roomes.
