Ware’s FA Cup meeting with Leverstock Green saw them looking to make amends for the 2-0 league defeat at the end of last season. The Green had earned their visit to Wodson Park after overcoming Walthamstow in the previous round, coming back from a goal down before scoring twice late on to progress. Little did the away side know that late goals would once again become plentiful in their next FA Cup tie against Paul Halsey’s Ware.
As for Halsey’s starting eleven in this Cup clash, he preferred Max Granville to Gabe Ward in the fullback position despite Ward’s impressive 70 minutes at Thame United last weekend. Josh Okotcha retained his starting position and was paired alongside Ekow Coker at the back. David Sota started at left-back.
Coker’s inclusion allowed Anthony Wordsworth to move out of the backline and step up into the middle of the field alongside captain Herbie Townsend and number ten Rechan Esprit. Josh Hutchinson led the attack, flanked by Sam Mayuma and Khale Da Costa.
The opening ten minutes passed by rather quietly, leaving both Ware goalkeeper Fred Burbidge and Leverstock goalkeeper Ryan North largely untested. The first real opportunities arrived in quick succession shortly after. Hutchinson’s looping header landed on the roof of the net before Leverstock found space behind Granville twice down The Green’s left flank. Ware quickly regained possession and returned to the attack, where Wordsworth had room inside the box to attempt the spectacular. His effort flew high.
Esprit provided a better opening ten minutes later. The midfielder carried the ball down Ware’s right before lofting a cross towards the back post, where Hutchinson had found space. His header was directed downwards, forcing North into a sharp save to tip the ball over the bar.
The two sides had appeared to cancel each other out, with their similar shapes contributing to a cautious opening half-hour. That balance was disrupted by an unfortunate collision as Burbidge came out to collect the ball. The Ware goalkeeper was unable to continue, forcing Halsey to call upon 18-year-old debutant Marco Cavedaschi.
Ware quickly made the most of the disruption. Esprit glided beyond three Leverstock defenders before passing home a 1-0 lead five minutes before half-time.
The Green refused to wait for the interval and responded by creating their best opportunity of the half, striking the crossbar. Ware still had more to give, though. Hutchinson rose highest from the corner he had earlier earned and headed home to double the home side’s advantage seconds before the break. Ware had turned a largely cagey opening into a commanding position.
The Blues started the second half exactly as they had ended the first, by scoring. Da Costa’s free-kick found Coker at the back post. The centre-back attacked the delivery with a diving header and sent it into the far corner, giving Ware a 3-0 lead within five minutes of the restart.
The Green responded with two substitutions and altered their shape, pushing one of their midfielders higher in an attempt to find a route back into the tie. The change left spaces for Ware to exploit and the Blues were rewarded with a handful of chances.
Halsey soon turned to his own bench, introducing Jack Taylor and Gucci Soulya for Wordsworth and Townsend in the 50th minute. Soulya was quickly involved. He sent Esprit into space and the winger’s cross found Hutchinson, who showed his unselfishness by laying the ball back to Da Costa. The winger calmly slotted home Ware’s fourth.
It was a truly remarkable team move and arguably one of the finest passages of attacking football Ware produced during the afternoon.
Soulya almost added to his influence soon afterwards when Hutchinson dropped deeper and played him through on goal, although his effort was comfortably claimed by North. Once again, Hutchinson’s contribution to Ware’s attacking build-up was apparent and his performance was deservedly applauded by the home crowd.
With 20 minutes remaining, the depth of this season’s Ware squad was increasingly evident. Looking for fresh legs, Halsey made two more attacking substitutions, bringing on Reece Beckles-Richards and Theo Ofori for Da Costa and Hutchinson.
Beckles-Richards needed less than a minute to make an impact. His through ball found fellow substitute Soulya, who redeemed himself in front of goal and finished to add Ware’s fifth.
From there, Ware appeared to have the afternoon comfortably under control. The tempo slowed and Leverstock struggled to find a route through as The Blues looked to play out the remainder of the tie.
With five minutes of normal time remaining, Leverstock eventually found a way back into the contest. Cavedaschi may have been unsighted as a shot from outside the box was sent across the floor and into the goalkeeper’s bottom right corner. The young prospect’s clean sheet was out of reach.
Two minutes later, Cavedaschi was caught in possession near enough on his own goal line. Enoch Folorunsho was presented with the simplest of finishes and tapped the ball home from close range to give The Green a second.
The sudden fightback brought an otherwise calm contest to life. The two sides abruptly sparked and came together in the middle of the pitch after the referee’s whistle followed a rather soft challenge.
There was still time for one final twist. A loose touch from Granville gave Leverstock another opening and George Eldridge hit the ball into Cavedaschi’s bottom left corner.
The late, commendable fightback from Leverstock was not enough to overturn Ware’s dominance for the majority of the afternoon, although the final scoreline undoubtedly made the contest appear considerably closer than it had been. The Blues will instead find themselves in the hat for the Emirates FA Cup First Round Qualifying, having survived an extraordinary late twist to secure a 5-3 victory.
Line-ups and cards
Ware: Fred Burbidge (Marco Cavedaschi 37mins), Max Granville, David Sota, Anthony Wordsworth, Josh Okotcha, Ekow Coker, Khale Da Costa (Theo Ofori 69mins), Herbie Townsend (C) (Jack Taylor 62mins), Josh Hutchinson (Reece Beckles-Richards 71mins), Rechan Esprit, Sam Mayuma. Unused subs: Gabriel Ward, Leigh Rose.
Yellow cards: Ekow Coker 90mins.
Leverstock Green: Ryan North, Kombe Kawimbe, Vladyslav Karuchok (Nat Connolly 50mins), Dan Pett (C), Archie Quinlan, Ryan Carruthers (Marcus Warren 50mins), Ashton Corder (Enoch Fulorunsho 78mins), Carmicheal Uchenna, Jack Allen (George Eldridge 55mins), Ademide Baruwa, Joe McCarthy (Timi Bada 58mins). Unused subs: Bruce Ovbiye, Finlay Penniston-Walker.
