Ware are starting to look quite the useful side. On Saturday they overcame a team that struggled for much of the time but the Blues refused to let that affect their play.
On Wednesday night they faced the sterner test forecast for them after the weekend’s game. As it turned out they got the better of an Enfield side that played good football and were their equals in the first half before being worn down after the break.
Looking like a mature team makes it hard to pick anyone out for praise but Reece Beckles-Richards’ hat trick certainly suggests that he is finding his place in the squad. Two of his goals were almost identical, clinical conversions on four and sixty-six minutes of crosses into the six yard area from Sam Mayuma. They were signs too of Mayuma’s development into a more consistent danger this season.
Beckles-Richards’ other goal four minutes after the break came when he turned a loose ball into the net following Rechan Esprit’s forward drive before his shot was pushed out by George Edgeworth.
Esprit is another to mention. A few years ago as a graduate from our youth side he was deserving of a chance in the first team. Some thought he deserved less a chance but more a regular place. He thought so too and we lost him for two seasons to Binfield in the Isthmian League. Now back at Ware he doesn’t so much deserve a place in the team but own it.
Top spot in the league was secured by a fourth goal, this from the penalty spot after both Theo Ofori and Sami Moutawafiq were brought down. Ofori converted the penalty with his usual aplomb. Two minutes later he had the chance to make it five after Finlay Titchmarsh was tripped in the area. This time Ofori, perhaps conscious of it coming so soon after his previous penalty, chose to vary his approach with the result that the ball went wide.
But 4-0 was enough to take over top spot with a second consecutive clean sheet suggesting that things are working all through the team. A moment then to mention Max Woodford who has played his part in this. One particular save early in the first half when he cleared the ball from the goal line may well have been crucial. An equaliser then could have changed the character of the game.
With Ware taking such an early lead expectations were high among visiting supporters but Enfield were having none of it. In a fast and closely fought first half they were always threatening and the match was a good spectacle for those watching.
Even so Ware had their moments and might have gone further ahead when Esprit’s run ended with a cross from the right to Beckles-Richards. Just to show he’s human the hat trick man screwed his shot wide from close in front of goal.
Come the second half and an early goal left Ware looking more confident. Enfield were still competing but there was a sense that Ware were in control and knew it. They can certainly play the ball around the pitch well and once again benefitted from a starting lineup that showed just one change from Saturday, George Alfieri coming in at Josip Jevdjic’s expense.
The need to keep all members of the squad happy and getting game time is now Paul Halsey’s biggest problem. At the moment things seem settled meaning that some players are now dependent on injuries to others before they get a start and ninety minutes under their belt.
For now the false dawn after the 5-0 FA Cup win at the start of the season is in the past and the current form looks more durable. Still, there are a number of clubs jostling for top spot and that jostling will continue at the weekend when Ware do not have a game. Best not to get too carried away this early in the season.
Lineups and crime sheet.
Ware: Max Woodford, Finlay Titchmarsh, George Alfieri, Sami Moutawafiq, Jack Grosvenor, Josh Okotcha, Theo Ofori, Herbie Townsend (Max Granville 67mins), Reece Beckles-Richards (Caiden Remy-Dee 67mins), Rechan Esprit (Gabriel Chapps 73mins), Sam Mayuma. Unused subs: Josip Jevdjic, Bendie Idikayi.
Yellow card: Sami Moutawafiq 81 minutes
Enfield: George Edgeworth, Luke Clark, Jack Taylor, Callum Taylor, Joni Vukaj, Umaru Kabia (Bailey Eden 77mins), James Bone (Kaya Hayretting 77mins), George Sykes, Freddy Moncur (Bradley McClenaghan 65mins), Alexander Penn (Nathan Brathwaite 57mins), Can Arioglu. Unused subs: George Spillane.
Yellow cards: Callum Taylor 59 minutes, George Edgeworth 75 minutes.
