It wasn’t just that this result has put a place in the play-offs as good as out of reach. Even if Ware win all their three remaining matches they are reliant on others to lose all or most of theirs. No, it was the nature of a heavy defeat that saw the Blues unable to counter a well drilled Biggleswade side.
Of course, Ware have struggled through a season of injuries that has required them to play at full tilt in their most recent undefeated run. The outcome in this game was that they just didn’t seem able to rise to the challenge offered by the home side. Jack Grosvenor was sidelined again with a return of his Achilles problem but this result was not about the absence of one player, however important he is to the side. The team looked tired and were ripe for exploitation by a very good Biggleswade.
It looked that way early on with Ethan Kessel playing a controlling role in the Biggleswade midfield, initiating much of their forward movement. The home side looked co-ordinated team whilst Ware placed too much responsibility on Sam Mayuma, one man who was constantly sent long balls that alerted the home defence and left the Ware number eleven struggling to get past two or even three defenders blocking his progress.
David Sota would come up in support but was subject to the same treatment which meant that Ware were now vulnerable to quick breaks down the Biggleswade right. So it was that they took the lead on fifteen minutes. Adam Hunt had enough time and space to reach the Ware penalty area unchallenged from where his cross was eventually converted by Ryan Gray after an initial save by Fred Burbidge.
For a while it looked as though Ware might yet make a game of it and they forced a number of corners. But it was Biggleswade who came closest just three minutes after the goal when Hunt volleyed the ball just over the bar and onto the top of the net.
Still Ware’s corners paid off eventually and Jack Taylor dropped one from Ware’s left just beyond the far post. There was Jay Rolfe to repeat his headed goal from Saturday. Having never scored in 57 appearances for Ware, Rolfe now had two in two games. This suggested that all might still go well but it was a false sign.
Just past the half hour a neat flick wrong footed Ware and Gray went forward from his own half with the ball and outpacing the recovering defence. Forced slightly wide into the penalty area he shot low and hard past Burbidge to reassert the Biggleswade lead. It was a very good goal.
The home side continued to push for another goal. They seemed to always have a man over. As Ware challenged for a ball so it was slid to the side for an unmarked Biggleswade player. It was beginning to look a difficult task for Ware.
It became more difficult five minutes before the break when Gray was involved again, carrying the ball down the Biggleswade left before laying the ball to Kessel whose low cross into the Ware area was met by Sonny Coughlin-Brown who opted to head rather than volley the ball. It was a good choice, the ball beating the exposed Burbidge to make it 3-1.
Ware started the second half with thee substitutions and it seemed to make a difference. Sami Moutawafiq and Rechan Esprit came in to midfield whilst Josh Okotcha took over at right back and the home side were made to adjust. Not before Esprit’s shot was tipped over the bar by George Rose. However the adjustment did come and the game for a while took on the feeling of a pre-season friendly or end of season game with not much hanging on it.
Even so the home side weren’t finished and made it four on 75 minutes. Michael Simpson got the final touch with his head after Biggleswade picked their way through the six yard area. Ware almost had a consolation in the last ten minutes when Johnny Allotey had the ball in the net but Theo Ofori had played him in from an offside position.
Instead there was an 89th minute goal at the other end. Alex Marsh scored from a shot that was deflected past Burbidge to rub salt into Ware’s wounds.
Line-ups
No cards were issued in this match.
Ware: Fred Burbidge, Finlay Titchmarsh (Josh Okotcha 45mins), David Sota, Jack Taylor (Rechan Esprit 45mins), Leigh Rose, Jay Rolfe, Reece Beckles-Richards (C) (Johnny Allotey 66mins), Max Granville (Sami Moutawafiq 45mins), Josh Hutchinson, Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo, Sam Mayuma (Theo Ofori 68mins).
Biggleswade: George Rose, Adam Hunt, Michael Simpson (Billy Baird 84mins), Lawrie Marsh (C), Leo Jenkins, Ethan Kessel, Alex Marsh, Rio Martucci (Luca Cardines 76mins), Ryan Gray (Daniel Bond 68mins), Bradley Bell, Sonny Coughlin-Brown (Timmy Akinbusoye 76mins). Unused sub: Michael Fisher.
