This was not the Biggleswade Ware have become used to playing. A fifth consecutive league defeat with just two goals scored in that time was blamed on injuries and suspensions. If that’s the case Biggleswade won’t be pleased with Ethan Kessel’s red card in added time after a tackle on Josh Hutchinson. Studs down the back of the Ware man’s leg saw him hobble off and leave him doubtful for Tuesday’s game at home to Leverstock Green.
Ware have had their own struggles with missing players so their first away win in the league shows that these can be overcome. With this example, a revival is surely possible for Biggleswade too but not on this performance. They started brightly and seemed to have a clear intention of carrying the game to Ware from the kick off. It barely got going and the first fifteen minutes saw play very much in the home side’s half.
Biggleswade did manage to pull themselves back into contention and eased the pressure at the back but that was when Ware took the lead. It was the Joshes again at the midpoint of the half. Okotcha’s cross from the left was deftly deflected by Hutchinson to leave James Goff in the home goal fumbling for a ball that bounced across the line.
Ware continued to look for goals and might have had a second five minutes later. Leigh Rose’s cross was aimed perfectly for the incoming Anthony Wordsworth but his header from within the six yard area was well saved by Goff’s outstretched hand at the expense of a corner. The cross however strained Rose’s hamstring and he was withdrawn moments later as a precaution.
To the observer the difference between this Ware and the team that which struggled at times early in the season is of course not so much in terms of personnel as in the attitude on the pitch. In this match it seemed that everybody was committed to the cause. The ball was there to be won and if one man was beaten another took up the challenge even if it meant a front runner chasing back into defence.
This was what frustrated the home side and kept them on the back foot until the final ten minutes. As Ware grew in confidence this was reflected in their play and some nice touches and short passing opened up the Biggleswade defence. If there could be a criticism it would be that Ware spurned some opportunities by not going straight for goal. Instead, they sometimes turned away from goal and occasionally into dead ends. But they remained willing to chase every ball to minimise the consequences.
Even so the home side had their moments often involving Matteo Perkins who was a threat on the left. It was with just over ten minutes left that a shot had Fred Burbidge straining to tip it over the bar for a corner. This was perhaps what Biggleswade needed, their four corners up to this point were turned into nine as they strove for an equaliser. For the first time in the match Ware were under significant pressure and an equaliser looked possible. But they held out in the same spirit that had kept them ahead through the game.
Even so the second goal provided the relief of knowing that the three points were safe. With just a minute of normal time left Sam Mayuma’s ball through a home defence confused by Hutchinson leaving it for Rechan Esprit allowed the number seven to take the ball round Goff and flick it goalwards. The keeper got a hand to it but could only delay the ball’s journey into the net.
It was Esprit’s first league goal of the season though his fifth in all and elevated him to joint second in the team’s goals table alongside Hutchinson but two behind Mayuma in first place. More importantly for Ware the win has lifted them clear of the relegation zone and to the dizzy height of sixteenth in the table. They were the only side in the bottom half of the table to win, something they will want to reinforce in Tuesday’s home game with Leverstock Green.
Line-ups and cards
Ware: Fred Burbidge, Max Granville, Josh Okotcha, Herbie Townsend (C), Leigh Rose (Matty Ireland 30mins), Jay Rolfe, Rechan Esprit, Jack Taylor (Rylee Kitteringham 81mins), Josh Hutchinson (Finlay Titchmarsh 94mins), Sam Mayuma, Anthony Wordsworth (Khale DaCosta 48mins). Unused sub: Jahvarn Stewart.
Yellow cards: Jack Taylor 38mins, Herbie Townsend 86mins.
Biggleswade: James Goff, Michael Simpson, Luke Oswick, Bily Baird, Conor Inskip (Ethan Kessel 74mins), Harry Jones, Rio Martucci-Bedingfield, Daniel Bond (C), Caleb Wright (Foden Northover 81mins), Matteo Perkins. Riley England (Twariq Usuf 52mins). Unused subs: Michael Fisher, Timothy Momodu.
Yellow card: Luke Oswick 68mins.
Red card: Ethan Kessel 92mins.
