Next up – Aylesbury United
Saturday, 31st 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.
Printed programme on the gate for £2.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://warefc.co.uk/product/ware-v-aylesbury-united/
The match (a centenary celebration)
It’s actually a little more than a hundred years since our first meeting. That was on 4th September 1926 and a 9-2 defeat for Ware in our first ever FA Cup game. I don’t think we’ll be carrying any revenge motive into this game but we will want to recover from Wednesday’s set back as we seek to climb out of the danger area in the table. The Ducks want to do that too so we can expect another competitive match.
Keeping to the centenary theme, if he is selected for this match Josh Okotcha (pictured) will make his one hundredth appearance for Ware. His debut came on August 10th 2024 at home to Thame United and he has been a regular in the team since then. Josh has scored five goals not least our equaliser at Hertford last Saturday. Well done Josh, congratulations and thanks.
Form guide (0.75 vs 0.769)
Well, neither side has set the league alight so far. Aylesbury are 19th with ten points from 13 games whilst Ware are a point behind in 21st place but with a game in hand. That gives us the not very meaningful statistic of Ware earning 0.75 points per game and the Ducks getting 0.769. The more significant factor is that both lost in midweek and will be looking to get back to winning ways. Ware have home advantage – see previous meetings below.
Previous Meetings
We’ve had 44 meetings since that first one. The majority have been league games in the Delphian, Athenian and now Southern competitions. We have played once more in the FA Cup with Don Whyte’s goal in 1973 giving us some revenge for that 9-2 hammering. Of the current run of twelve Southern League games we’ve won six and drawn one. Five of the six were at home with a total aggregate of 20 goals for and eight against. Ware will hope to carry that form into Saturday’s game.
Commentary
Pete and Symon will be commentating on the game from 2.55 onwards at https://90minuteslivefootball.mixlr.com/events/5404004
Match Officials
Our referee is Mr Freddie Dutton and the assistant referees are Ricardo Matis and Matthew Wood. We welcome them all to Wodson Park for what may well be their first visits.
Sunday’s youth game
There is just one Eastern Junior Alliance game at the Park on Sunday with the under-18s taking on Takeley for league points. Kick-off is at 10am. As always for these matches entrance is free and the bar and tea bar will be open throughout.
