This result has eased some of the doubts that have crept in after Ware’s opening day league defeat; the less than convincing win in their next game; and the FA Cup exit. In fact, after a slow start, Blues grew into this game and might have had more than the three goals.
Initially however, hopes that Ware might recover their earlier season form were put on hold as Lions put together some good football. A side that has grown together through previous seasons in lower leagues looked confident and quick on an excellent playing surface.
By contrast Ware seemed sluggish and out of sorts and, in the first half particularly, their joint leading scorers just weren’t able to make an impact on the game. Theo Ofori saw a lot of the ball but couldn’t seem to make the best use of it and didn’t reappear for the second half. Caiden Remy-Dee missed two good chances, the second when a great cross from Rechan Esprit presented him with an excellent chance in front of goal that he drove wide.
By this time Ware had pulled themselves into the game and were having the better of the exchanges. Max Granville and especially Sami Moutawafiq were busy in midfield and the chances were starting to come. One of the best was after a 25th minute corner from which the ball twice struck the post and appeared to be spinning into the net, needing only a tap to make certain. Yet somehow Nathan Bloohn from inside his net got it away.
Ware looked to be in control for much of the second half and took the lead six minutes in. A neat flick by Esprit saw the ball go across the edge of the Lions’ penalty area to Moutawafiq who took it wide before turning to shoot low across the goal. Bloohn dived but the ball was past him and into the net off the base of his left hand post.
Five minutes later it might have been two as George Alfieri’s cross was met well by Remy-Dee but headed over. Within a minute Remy-Dee was through on goal but Bloohn came out to save with his feet. Later the same two players reenacted the scene with the same outcome except that this time the clearance fell to Sam Mayuma whose lofted return from distance hit the Lions’ crossbar.
It was two-nil with twenty-five minutes to go when Esprit’s sudden turn and shot flew into the net from outside the penalty area seemingly never more than a few feet off the ground all the way. Bloohn had little chance.
But just when it seemed possible to relax Lions came back and in one attack Granville appeared to bring down an attacker. Referee Keane pointed to the spot but after consulting his assistant determined that Granville had played the ball before the contact. It was the most obvious example of a game excellently handled by the officials who worked well as a team.
With twenty minutes to go two more substitutions brought rest for the hard working Granville and an end to the frustration for Remy-Dee. It wasn’t his day but we’ve seen enough to know that he surely has a good future at the club.
The scoring was completed when Huseyin Yildiz rescued a wayward cross and laid it back to Alfieri. He delivered another good cross this time to the far side of the Lions’ goal where Mayuma rose to head it in.
This was a morale boosting performance from Ware though three of the squad won’t be available for Monday’s derby with Hertford. Despite the missed chances Ware are now the highest scorers in the division with nine goals but the season is very young, there will be credible challengers for that title. There was a clean sheet too thanks in part to Alfie Mumford’s save at close range in the second half.
London Lions showed some good football at times and remain the only one of the three promoted teams to have gained any points so far.
Ware: Alfie Mumford, George Alfieri, Josip Jevdjic, Sami Moutawafiq, Jack Grosvenor, Josh Okotcha, Theo Ofori (Huseyin Yildiz 46mins), Max Granville (Mitch Hahn 69mins), Caiden Remy-Dee (Gabriel Chapps 69mins), Rechan Esprit, Sam Mayuma. Unused subs: Ziad Bakarr, Lewis Thomas
Yellow card: Sami Moutawafiq 64 minutes.
