Concerned by Ware’s continuing injury problems and recognising the Waders’ scoring record, Paul Halsey opted for a 3-5-2 formation in this game. Without a right back following Finlay Titchmarsh’s broken hand against Leighton, Johnny Allotey filled in defensively whilst Josip Jevdic played further forward. They effectively swapped positions from Tuesday’s game at Barton.
We also saw Gabriel Chapps, on the back of 22 substitute appearances this season, given his first league start since the defeat to Hertford. This enabled us to see a different player to the one we have become used to this season.
Several well thought and executed through balls to open up the home defence were the result. Is this Chapps’ best role rather than as relief striker with ten minutes to go and some sort of change needed?
All that said there were times when the five in midfield didn’t make the difference that might have been hoped for. The slippery surface didn’t help but on the basis that it was the same for both sides there were worrying times when the midfield was outrun and exposed.
As a result Biggleswade had the better of the opening half, forcing a number of corners whilst Ebenezer Kufuor hit the inside of Max Woodford’s right hand post. The ball rebounded across the face of goal before being cleared by David Sota for a throw in.
As the rain pelted down in the second half the opening goal came seven minutes in when there was hesitation in the Ware team as two players, seemingly unsure who was to go for a loose ball, allowed Kufuor to take it. He laid the perfect ball through to Josh Steele on the edge of the area whose first time shot on the turn may have surprised Max Woodford but was also too powerful and gave him little chance.
It was perhaps an illustration of the difference on the day. Both Chapps and Jevdic had had first half chances but with too much time to think about them had hit the side netting. The two combined in the second half to give Jevdic another chance but this time the on target shot was saved by Jack Berman.
That would have given Ware the lead after Josh Okotcha’s equaliser just past the hour mark. Sami Moutawafiq’s free kick was floated in to the home penalty area and headed on by Jay Rolfe. In what looked a crowded six yard box Okotcha came in behind the Biggleswade defence to first time the ball beyond Berman.
All was now to play for but with fifteen minutes to go Biggleswade took the points. Harrison Rookhard’s cross to the near post saw Woodford under pressure from Lynton Goss. The ball was cleared to Kufuor whose first strike was blocked only for him to hit the rebound with a rising shot just inside the post.
Late on Ware introduced under-18 player Freddie Higgs for his first team debut. Watching on the sidelines was his father Fraser who made 22 appearances and scored six goals in the mid-1990s. Watching then was Freddie’s grandfather. Even in defeat there are some things to treasure and this testimony of the enduring power of the game and its people was something to savour.
Line-ups and cards
On a day of difficult and tiring conditions Biggleswade used none of their five substitutes.
Ware: Max Woodford, Johnny Allotey, David Sota, Sami Moutawafiq, Josh Okotcha, Jay Rolfe, Rechan Esprit (Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo 66mins), Max Granville (Freddie Higgs 92mins), Reece Beccles-Richards (C), Gabriel Chapps, Josip Jevdic (Theo Ofori 76mins). Unused subs: Andrew Bennett, Jack Grosvenor.
Yellow card: Reece Beccles-Richards 30mins.
Biggleswade Town: Jack Berman, Cyrus Babaie-Gumbs, Nagheeb Ibrahim, Daniel Newton, Alfie Powell, Lynton Goss (C), Ebenezer Kufuor, Adam Martin, Joshua Steele, Emmanuel Dahie, Harrison Rookhard. Unused subs: Barsa Mirtahmasebi, Basim Mirtahmasebi, Niall Jones, Damani Hunter, Liam Andrews.
Yellow card: Alfie Powell 56mins.
