This was not the first time we have seen Ware allow their opponents to come forward against a mostly resilient defence, it seems to be quite the normal approach now that Jack Grosvenor has recovered from injury. But it was the biggest test of those tactics so far as Hertford played good football in the centre of the pitch but mostly foundered when they came into contact with Ware’s five-at-the-back system.
The Ware defence wasn’t foolproof however as was found on 33 minutes when the side was two goals up. Noah Mosanya’s perfectly executed cross from the right dropped right in front of an unmarked Lawrence Ajong. He reduced Hertford’s deficit by volleying home with Max Woodford completely exposed and powerless.
It didn’t feel like it at the time but it turned out to be something of an aberration as Ware continued to keep the home side at bay. The closest Hertford came after that was five minutes before the break when Gabriel Ward’s well timed tackle robbed Marcus Painter who was clear on the edge of the penalty area and three minutes after the break when Woodford tipped Billy Mardell-Smith’s header over the bar.
Mardell-Smith was shadowed for much of the game by Jack Taylor. They had played together in Watford’s under-18 side and much, including fireworks, was expected of their duel. But nothing significant materialised and it conformed to the general sporting spirit of the game. A seemingly quiet contest between the two might well have left Taylor as the happier.
As for Ware they had set out their intentions as early as the first minute. Theo Ofori was freed on the left and made for goal. Escorted by two defenders however he decided to shoot from distance and James Callan gathered comfortably.
Even so, whilst Woodford was barely troubled at the other end Ware again came forward. Taylor seemed to push Billy Heaps but the referee wasn’t interested only for Heaps to do the same to Taylor. This time Heaps’ push had a little more emphasis and a foul was given.
Sami Moutawafiq’s free kick was sent deep into the Hertford area, headed back across goal by Jack Grosvenor and then flicked just over the bar by Jay Rolfe. A minute later Ward’s cross into the area was narrowly wide of the incoming Rechan Esprit who would surely have buried the ball in the net if his head had connected with it.
Ware did take the lead on 21 minutes. Rolfe’s clearance reached Ofori on the halfway line but under pressure from Ben Herd at his back. Ofori ducked and with that Herd also went too low and missed the ball. Esprit was on it and fed it forward to Ofori who was now running clear. Escaping the attention of Joe Nardelli, Ofori drew Callan out of his goal and slipped the ball to Reece Beckles-Richards who scored under no pressure.
It was two-nil almost on the half hour. Moutawafiq’s ball forward was met by Ofori as it dropped on the edge of the penalty area. Callan was there too and clattered the Ware number ten to the ground. The keeper earned himself a yellow card for that whilst Ofori got to his feet after treatment for a minute or more and sent Callan the wrong way with his penalty.
Ajong’s goal had given Hertford hope and they started to press in the second half. The pressure was quite intense at times and there was the clear sense that an equaliser would turn the game in the home side’s favour.
Ware were still dangerous on the break and Ofori was just wide with a chance form Esprit’s cross but the pressure was growing at the other end of the pitch. It all changed midway through the half. Taylor’s pass found Ofori running from his own half and cutting in towards goal. His shot from maybe twenty yards went between Nardelli and Isaac Evans and beat Callan to his left. It was a wonderful effort from the man who had sat on the bench all through the previous week’s win.
Ofori was immediately substituted and received a huge hug from his manager when he reached the technical area. It was a job well done and he had turned the game irrevocably towards Ware. Hertford ladled substitutes into the mix at regular intervals after that but couldn’t find the right recipe as the game drifted from them and spectators amongst a sizeable crowd started to leave.
It was left to Ware to finish off the proceedings. Moutawafiq released Taylor teetering on the edge of offside to carry the ball forward. With his defenders caught out it was left to Callan to stop the forward run but Taylor slid the ball across to Beckles-Richards in front of goal on the six yard line.
Ware’s top scorer didn’t start the season at Ware but he’s quickly come to know what the supporters like. Instead of passing the ball into an empty net, he took it forward and from maybe no more than a couple of feet blasted it into the goal. The fans liked that.
Hertford’s run of six unbeaten games had come to an end whilst Ware’s was extended to five. There is still a long way to go however so neither side should feel too elated or disheartened. Further, might we see these two sides meeting again in the play-offs?
Line-ups and cards.
Ware: Max Woodford, Gabriel Ward, Josh Okotcha, Sami Moutawafiq, Jay Rolfe, Jack Grosvenor (C), Rechan Esprit (Gabriel Chapps 88mins), Jack Taylor (Freddie Higgs 90mins), Reece Beckles-Richards (Johnny Allotey 87mins), Theo Ofori (Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo 67mins), David Sota. Unused sub: Calum Barnes.
Yellow cards: Rechan Esprit 65mins, Reece Beckles-Richards 75mins.
Hertford Town: James Callan, Ollie Porter (Lene Burden 63mins), Isaac Evans, Albert McGregor (Dylan Colletti 83mins), Joe Nardelli (Fraser Findlay 78mins), Ben Herd, Noah Mosanya, Billy Heaps (Jesus Mendoza 72mins), Lawrence Ajong (Zen Cunniingham 87mins), Billy Mardell-Smith (C), Marcus Painter.
Yellow card: Joe Nardelli 74mins.
