Ware were expecting a different challenge in this game compared to recent matches and they weren’t disappointed. They were robbed of the ball almost straight from the kick off as the Citizens launched into something of a blitzkrieg on them.
Their long balls and fast running kept Ware pegged back and forced them into hurried, first time clearances without time or chance to pick out a team mate. Whilst there were few dangerous moments for them in the final third, it still didn’t look good for the visitors as they found it hard to break out or mount cohesive moves.
Finlay Titchmarsh’s run along the byline into the home penalty area was the only sign that Ware might yet ease the situation even though his shot was cleared away. And so it proved twenty minutes in. Titchmarsh’s high ball into the eighteen yard box fell just right for Reece Beckles-Richards who turned to score from close range.
This changed the nature of the game and Ware started to have the better of things, looking more like the side we have seen in their last few matches. A defensive mix up gave Sam Mayuma a momentary opportunity but the home defence recovered and the danger was cleared away.
In a game that swung one way then another the home side were only behind for ten minutes. Eddie Corbit’s cross from the right found Layne Eadie with time and space to steady himself before shooting beyond Max Woodford who thus conceded his first goal in Ware colours.
The Citizens were now back in the game which was now open to either side to get a hold of it. Ware did so five minutes from the break as Theo Ofori outpaced his defender wide on the right before turning in to the penalty area. It looked for a moment as if Ofori would have to pass but the defence parted at the right moment and the ware number seven exploited it to regain the lead.
The home side were undaunted and continued to carry the game to Ware after the break until the game appeared to take a turn in Ware’s favour. Ten minutes in Rechan esprit appeared to be fouled but the referee allowed play to continue as Sam Mayuma picked up the loose ball, rode a tackle and centred to Beckles-Richards. He laid it back to Herbie Townsend whose shot was deflected into the air. Beckles-Richards was the quickest to react and, as it came down, looped the ball beyond Johnson for number three.
Five minutes later the Citizens were reduced to ten men when former Ware youth team player Ethan Rookard followed through on Max Woodford when the keeper was lying on the ground. The referee was close to the incident and produced a red card without hesitation.
Two goals and one man down didn’t seemingly upset the home side and they continued to enjoy a good share of the game getting their reward with ten minutes of normal time left. Bailey Stevenson shot across the face of goal and Woodford got a hand to but could only divert to Lewis Taaffe who put the ball into the net.
The rest of the game plus a significant number of added minutes saw the Citizens pressing for an equaliser but the game ended in a fifth consecutive win for Ware. With other results going their way Blues move up in the table.
Lineups and cards
Ware: Max Woodford, Finlay Titchmarsh, George Alfieri, Max Granville (Sami Moutawafiq 69mins), Jack Grosvenor (C), Josh Okotcha (Bendie Idikayi 52mins), Theo Ofori, Herbie Townsend (Gabriel Chapps 89mins), Reece Beccles-Richards (Caiden Remy-Dee 78mins), Rechan Esprit, Sam Mayuma. Unused sub: Jay Rolfe.
Yellow cards: Max Granville 44 mins, Max Woodford 74 mins.
Welwyn Garden City: Lamar Johnson, Layne Eadie (C), Jed Ejjayha (Panny Boxer 83mins), Jack Green (Aiden Read 78mins), Bard Gothard (Ryan Kirwan 73mins), Carlos Velasco (Bradley Bell 73mins), Tom Bruno, Bailey Stevenson, Ethan Rookard, Eddie Corbit, Lewis Taaffe. Unused sub: Adam Pollock.
Red card: Ethan Rookard 61mins.
Yellow card: Layne Eadie 90+3mins.
