In some respects this was a game similar to the reverse fixture at Wodson Park six weeks earlier. There was no score at half time before Lions turned the screw and took the game away from Ware after the break.
This time though the first half was different. Ware were not trying to keep up with the young, fast and skilful Lions as before. In fact there was little of that form shown by the home side in the first 45 minutes. Typical of the way Lions had been kept at bay was the dual between Matty Ireland and their captain Jack Mattey. It was a highlight of the half as Ireland robbed Mattey of the ball or shepherded him into dead areas of the pitch from where any crosses were dealt with by Ireland’s colleagues.
One home supporter bemoaned the fact that his side had had no clear cut chances up to the break, claiming that Ware had been the better side. It didn’t seem an unreasonable opinion. With more composure Ware might have had the lead.
The best chance came towards the end of the half. Nice work by Max Granville took him clear of an opponent and he slipped the ball through to Theo Ofori. Still some way from goal and with Nathan Bloohn coming out to meet him Ofori took his chance with a lofted shot. It was tantalisingly close but came off Bloohn’s post.
Ware’s performance in the draw at home to Stotfold seven days before had suggested that they had weathered the injury storm. They seemed to have found a workable combination from those still fit. The continuing problem though was the lack of strength in depth. This was exacerbated in this game by Leigh Rose’s absence which allowed Riley Warmerdam to make his debut at right back. The number two celebrated by getting booked in the first ten minutes. Still, better than when Ware’s goal keeper was sent off five minutes into his debut in a game last season.
Things became a little worse in the opening minutes of the second half when Ofori was injured and had to leave the field to be replaced by Rechan Esprit. This in itself was hardly a problem but too much of the bench was now stocked with players returning from injuries. This would come back to haunt Ware when Reece Beckles-Richards came on to replace Jack Taylor after seventy-eight minutes.
Beckles-Richards has been nursing a strained hamstring and lasted little more than ten minutes. Put through in the dying moments of the game with only Bloohn to beat his hamstring gave out and he could only chip the ball into the keeper’s grateful hands. The replacement was Finlay Titchmarsh, another returning from injury. Luckily there was little time left for him to put his recovery to the test.
Lions had come out for the second half with greater intent than they had shown before the break. They moved the ball around well, looking comfortable and confident in what they did. It wasn’t entirely unexpected when they took the lead, Joe Leslie shooting home from what looked a difficult angle just past the hour. Ten minutes later Zak Jackson made it two from close range.
In between those goals the home side had hit a post and later Fred Burbidge pulled off a good save to keep the score to a respectable level. Even so, it all rather emphasised Lions’ right to the points.
Ware continued to have plenty of the game but were not as co-ordinated as the Lions and as more of the walking wounded came off the bench, began to look a little disjointed. When referee Rendell blew the final whistle it was something of a relief for the visitors.
For London Lions the whistle signalled their elevation to the play-off places after they had proved once again to be a resilient and attractive side.
Line-ups and cards.
Ware: Fred Burbidge, Riley Warmerdam, Matty Ireland, Max Granville, Jay Rolfe, Josh Okotcha, Theo Ofori (Rechan Esprit 49mins), Jack Taylor (Reece Beckles-Richards 75mins (Finlay Titchmarsh 91mins)), Josh Hutchinson, Sam Mayuma, Anthony Wordsworth (Rylee Kitteringham 80mins). Unused sub: Herbie Townsend.
Yellow card: Riley Warmerdam 10mins.
London Lions: Nathan Bloohn, Adam Lipman (Joseph Bellman 70mins), Yoav Sade, John Levy, Ben Bellman (James Cohen 73mins), Jake Rinsler, Jack Mattey (Tyler Smith 77mins), Ben Barnett (Adam Burchell 75mins), Zak Jackson (Michael Perkins 75mins), Joe Leslie, Daniel Creese.
Yellow cards: Yoav Sade 39mins, John Levy 59mins, Joe Leslie 77mins.
