There are frustrating games that never seem to quite get going. From Ware’s point of view this was one of them as Ilford recovered from a goal down to fight for their place in the next round.
Ware’s goal came after two minutes when Theo Ofori took the ball past a defender before shooting beyond Wilkinson Boateng from the corner of the six yard box. It was enough to put the visitors into a confident mood and for a while they moved the ball around well.
However, Ilford, clearly finding the prospect of reaching only their third ever appearance in the first qualifying round an inspiration, slowly pulled themselves back into contention. By the last fifteen minutes before half time they were on top and forced four corners in quick succession from one of which Alfie Mumford brought off a fine save, tipping the ball away for a further corner..
Ilford were finding their men with quick, accurate passes and were particularly dangerous down their left side where Maksym Trush offered speed and skill. His contest with George Alfieri was one of the highlights of the match. Ware’s half time lead was perhaps more than they deserved.
We saw the Ware that everyone wants and expects in spells during the second half. The best came immediately after Ilford might have equalised, a long ball bouncing awkwardly defeated the oncoming Mumford and looked to be heading for goal until Lewis Thomas cleared off the line.
Ware’s response was immediate with a good passing move taking the ball to the edge of the home area where Gabriel Chapps played Ofori in with a good chance that he hit wide. Undeterred and within a minute Rechan Esprit was on the end of a through ball but shot another good chance over the bar. Either one of those would probably have sealed the game for Ware.
On the hour Mitch Hahn’s free kick was headed on to cause trouble in the home goal mouth before it was scrambled clear and it was Hahn again in the 84th minute with an instinctive volley that went high.
But these were isolated moments in a struggle that never reached the heights until Trush, with ten minutes to go, freed himself from Alfieri’s attentions. He cut inside before curling his shot from distance into the net for a deserved equaliser.
In extra time Ware rose to the occasion and had their best fifteen minutes of the game. Again there were chances to put the tie to bed but they couldn’t be finished.
It looked as though the home side were tiring after giving their all in the first ninety minutes but they came back in the second half of extra time and had the better of the game again.
In the shoot-out Mitch Hahn’s penalty was well saved by Boateng at the foot of his right hand post. Thereafter Every other penalty was successful with Ilford’s fifth negating the need for Ware’s final attempt.
Ware now have a free Saturday on August 30th so you could go over to Hertingfordbury Park to watch Enfield take on Ilford in the next round.
Ware: Alfie Mumford, George Alfieri, Josip Jevdjic (Mitch Hahn 46mins), Sami Moutawafiq, Jack Grosvenor, Lewis Thomas (Josh Okotcha 63mins), Theo Ofori, Max Granville, Gabriel Chapps (Ziad Bakarr 98mins), Rechan Esprit (Huseyin Yildiz 93mins), Caiden Remy-Dee (Sam Mayuma 69mins). Unused subs: Herbie Townsend, Logan Timothy.
Yellow cards: Josip Jevdjic 45 minutes and Jack Grosvenor 90+3 minutes.
