Four hundred-and-five supporters were in attendance at Wodson Park for Ware’s first Hertfordshire derby of the league season, although it was the sixty-second encounter between the two sides. The Blues faced Gavin Kelsey’s Welwyn Garden City after they had taken all six available points in the league since their shock FA Cup exit to Step 5 Enfield. Paul Halsey’s Ware side had also matched The Citizens’ unbeaten start to the campaign, recording three draws, as well as progressing through to the next round of both the FA Cup and Trophy.
Needless to say, Ware’s young loanee Zak Braverman was again on duty between the sticks whilst Fred Burbidge recovered from his injury, although Burbidge has recently hinted at a possible return next weekend. Ware’s sidelined number one may now face competition for his position after Braverman’s back-to-back heroics in the Trophy shootout two days earlier. Moving into the defence, 24-year-old Finley Titchmarsh returned to the starting eleven alongside David Sota, whilst Jack Grosvenor started alongside Ekow Coker in central defence, the pairing sharing the space for the first time this season. Anthony Wordsworth reverted to his primary position of central midfield next to Ware captain Herbie Townsend and Khale Da Costa, the latter being the furthest forward of the midfield trio. Reece Beckles-Richards appeared in the starting eleven for the first time this season, whilst fellow winger Theo Ofori sandwiched target man Josh Hutchinson.
For the visitors, former Cockfosters player Junior Moses made the brightest of starts with the ball at his feet during the opening five minutes, the direct winger one of ten ex-Cockfosters players listed in Kelsey’s matchday squad. The first glaring opportunity in front of goal came at the other end when Ofori beat his man and put it on a plate for Hutchinson, however the former Garden City striker placed his shot wide of the right post from six yards out. Moments later, Ware had regained possession and Grosvenor’s short back pass failed to reach his goalkeeper, instead finding Ethan Rookard. Braverman was up to the task though, producing a fantastic right-footed save to keep his side in the contest.
It wasn’t long before Ware’s unforced errors proved costly. Corbit still had plenty to do after earning possession inside Ware’s half, yet his accurate effort from distance found the back of the net. The Citizens had their second first-half goal of the season and Ware were forced to respond. Townsend landed heavily on his shoulder after being dispossessed in the build-up to the visitors taking the lead, although after receiving treatment he returned to the field of play albeit grimacing.
Halsey was understandably furious with his team and the tone of his voice increased when Hutchinson cheaply gave the ball away deep inside his own half, forcing Coker to come across and make the recovery tackle. The first notable decision referee Rikki Woolford had to make came in the form of a penalty appeal in the nineteenth minute when Hutchinson’s strike cannoned off the defender’s arm, yet no penalty was awarded. The local derby continued to heat up as off-the-ball collisions and strong challenges flew in, although it was goalscorer Corbit who received the first booking for persistent fouling.
The physical affair left Halsey obliged to make an early substitution as Coker suffered a potential eye injury whilst contesting a header in The Citizens’ penalty area. Unfortunately, Ware’s bench did not feature a natural centre-back, meaning midfielder Gucci Soulya replaced the injured defender and Wordsworth dropped into the defensive role. Despite the reshuffle, The Blues continued to push for an equaliser and Titchmarsh’s return continued to impress. Beckles Richards delivered from the left flank and his cross nearly found Soulya’s outstretched leg at the front post before eventually being cleared off the goal line.
At the other end, Moses got the better of Sota before his low cross went unanswered across the face of goal in the fortieth minute, whilst moments before the break Wordsworth’s scissoring attempt for the ball was cautioned by Woolford.
Neither side made a substitution during the interval, although movement in the dugout was apparent just five minutes into the second half when Max Granville replaced Ofori, allowing Da Costa to inherit the right-wing position. Two further yellow cards then added to the fire of an already fierce derby as Townsend and Moses came together, leaving the contest finely poised.
With twenty-five minutes to play, The Citizens doubled their lead against the run of play. Rookard rose highest when the visitors’ corner reached its target and left Ware with a mountain to climb. For all Ware’s effort, a derby-day miracle was not on the cards as recent substitute Luca Gordon volleyed home The Citizens’ third through a crowd of Ware defenders, leaving Braverman unsighted.
The deficit proved too great to overcome and Halsey turned to his bench for further rotation after a demanding run of fixtures. Jack Taylor replaced Townsend with ten minutes to play as Ware’s staff took no further risks with the captain’s shoulder, whilst teenager Rylee Kitteringham experienced his first ten minutes with the senior squad after substituting Da Costa. In the final moments of an already intense match, Moses’ studded lunge for the ball connected with Beckles-Richards’ shin and The Citizens’ winger received a straight red card despite already carrying a yellow. It was the sixth card of the afternoon, whilst Moses departed the pitch to a cold reception from his manager.
Barring the dismissal, it was a near-perfect afternoon for Kelsey and his men as the 3-0 victory extended their unbeaten start to the league campaign, whilst they retained a game in hand on second-placed Potters Bar Town. The stinging defeat leaves Ware fourteenth after four matches, having played more games than any other club in the bottom half of the table with the exception of Barton Rovers. Despite the emphatic scoreline, The Blues had their share of possession and chances, creating enough opportunities to have made the afternoon a very different story.
Line-ups and cards
Ware: Zack Braverman, Finlay Titchmarsh, David Sota, Herbie Townsend (C) (Jack Taylor 75mins), Jack Grosvenor, Ekow Coker (Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo 32mins), Reece Beckles-Richards, Josh Hutchinson, Khale Da Costa (Rylee Kitteringham 75mins), Theo Ofori (Max Granville 51mins), Anthony Wordsworth. Unused sub: Leigh Rose.
Yellow cards: Anthony Wordsworth 42mins, Herbie Townsend 55mins, Reece Beckles-Richards 60mins.
Welwyn Garden City: Connor Sampson, Kieran Guthier, Bradley Dixon-Smith (Evaristo Mendes 85mins), Eddie Corbit (Reece Barret 74mins), Jay Lovell (C), Frankie Impey, Nick Ralfe (Reece Mosanya 66mins), Malik Nosike, Ethan Rookard (Kendall Gyamfi 75mins), Junior Moses, Ryan Hayes (Luca Gordon 74mins).
Yellow cards: Eddie Corbit 23mins, Junior Moses 55mins.
Red card: Junior Moses 87mins.
