Next up – Marlow
Saturday, 17th October at Wodson Park, SG12 0UQ.
Pitching-in Southern League division one central; kick off 3pm.
Admission
Admission (contactless preferred but cash accepted) – Adults £10, Concessions £5, under 14s free with paying adult otherwise £2.50.
Gates open at 1.30pm.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://warefc.co.uk/product/ware-v-marlow/
The match
Both sides need points but for different reasons. Marlow are sixth in the table and want to stay there at least if not improve their position. Ware are still looking for a first league win. The wait can’t go on much longer surely. This looks like being a good, competitive game.
Form guide
Marlow are on a good run. A defeat at home to Thame United is the only stain on their record and was followed by five wins on the trot, four of which were away games. That’s a warning not to make too many assumptions about home advantage. Ware are still smarting from last week’s home defeat which would have been avoided but for two sloppy goals in the opening minutes. But that is a recurring theme this season, something which has to change.
Previous Meetings
We first met in 1952 and the run of league matches continued on and off into the 1980s covering games in the Spartan, Athenian and Isthmian Leagues. There was also an FA Cup game in 1985 which we won at Marlow by 3-2. The goals came from Graham Butterworth, Shaun Brett and Dave Barker. Marlow had their revenge in a 1-0 League Cup win at Ware in 2002. Most recent meetings have seen our paths cross in the Isthmian League before we both found oursleves back in the Southern. That’s six meetings in which there were five wins to Ware with the other drawn. We’ve conceded just two goals in those games. Last season we won 4-0 here (Reece Beckles-Richards 2, Theo Ofori and Sam Mayuma) and won the away fixture 2-0 (Reece and Sam again). Can we continue that on Saturday?
In total we have met 26 times, recording 14 wins and seven defeats. Goals for 61 and 34 against.
Commentary
Pete and Symon will be commentating on the game from 2.55 onwards. Catch them at https://90minuteslivefootball.mixlr.com/events/5378066
Match Officials
Our referee for this match is Matthew Childs who returns to Wodson Park for the second time this season having been in charge of August’s FA Trophy match and the resultant penalty shoot out against Brightlingsea Regent. A quick return also applies to both assistant referees. Scott Langley was here for our FA Cup game against Fakenham and Christopher Rammell for August Bank Holiday’s league meeting with Welwyn Garden City. We welcome them all back.
Sunday’s youth matches
There is just one Eastern Junior Alliance game at the Park on Sunday with the under-15s taking on Frenford in the second round of their league cup. Kick-off is at 10am. As always for these matches entrance is free and the bar and tea bar will be open throughout.
