On the first day of autumnal, even winter-like conditions, this match didn’t quite do enough to warm the blood. After failing to get three points last week from a mostly dominating performance this was a much closer game that Ware ultimately took full advantage of.
Reece Beckles-Richards, Ware’s most experienced player, captained the side in Jack Grosvenor’s absence. He does, after all, seem to engage with referees in every match but he played a calmer role now that it was officially sanctioned.
Both sides had their moments but couldn’t maintain control for any length of time. If it had ended as a draw, it would have been hard to complain but Ware produced two stand out performances at the right moments that made the difference.
And it was just as well because with Grosvenor missing and a new, young keeper making his league debut there was some inevitable jangling of nerves early on. As it turned out, it was the debutant Ben Nightingale between the posts who could take some of the praise on the back of his performance.
Was he nervous at the beginning or was that feeling all in the stands as we watched him settle down with his new defensive colleagues ahead of him? Soon enough he was making saves with confidence, blocking one chance with his body in a one-on-one and tipping another fierce shot just over the bar.
The other notable was Herbie Townsend who provided assists for both Ware goals on a day of bright sun and cold winds blowing the length of the pitch. In these circumstances both teams struggled to maintain any consistent pressure.
First to try was the home side and it was Leverstock’s game in the opening ten to fifteen minutes as they seemed quicker to the ball with Ware’s high speed, high pressure game nowhere to be seen. Yet the visitors came into the reckoning for a while after that and it began to look as though they would take over the game.
It didn’t last and play became disjointed as both sides struggled to establish themselves. So, when Ware took the lead midway through the half it was almost unexpected. Townsend’s corner curled in on the wind and dropped to just the right height for Ware’s shortest player pulling away from the six yard area in front of goal. Theo Ofori had the time and composure to head the ball beyond Harry Way and just inside the post.
With some justification the sides were level three minutes later when Jeffrey Sekyere’s lofted ball from the left went over Nightingale and dropped almost casually just inside the foot of the goal post behind him. It was Sekyere’s fourth goal in four games and his ninth all told this season.
The winning goal came fifty seconds into the second half. Townsend’s free kick from deep on the left was met by Bendie Idikayi near the far corner of the six yard area. The tallest player on the pitch, he didn’t need to jump to nod the ball back the other way and beyond Way into the net. Idikayi celebrated his first start for the club with his first goal.
Leverstock’s response was immediate and they put Ware under pressure with play mostly in the Ware half and Rechan Esprit forced into a tackle that cost him a yellow card. Thoughts of a possible 44 nerve wracking minutes ahead of the team and supporters were slowly stilled and with half an hour to go Ware were back in the game. But it was still a matter of who might get the next goal and the effect that would have on the game.
In the end there were no more goals though Ware would be grateful for Nightingale’s save on the goal line and Leverstock relieved when good chances for Ware were hit over the cross bar.
Lineups and cards
Ware: Ben Nightingale, Finlay Titchmarsh, George Alfieri, Sami Moutawafiq, Josh Okotcha, Bendie Idikayi, Theo Ofori (Caiden Remy-Dee 70mins), Herbie Townsend, Reece Beccles-Richards (C) (Gabriel Chapps 79mins), Rechan Esprit (Max Granville 70mins), Sam Mayuma. Unused subs: Jay Rolfe, David Sota.
Yellow cards: Rechan Esprit 47mins, Theo Ofori 67mins and Gabriel Chapps 91mins.
Leverstock Green: Harry Way, Dan Casey, Rio Beach, Josh Dooley, Thomas Georgiou, Nat Connolly (Ryan Carruthers 79mins), Joe McCarthy (Ethan Mooney 92mins), Dan Pett (C), Jeffrey Sekyere, Juan Pablo Velasco (Jack Allen 74mins), Iker Leon (Radu-Mihal Stefanoaica 64mins). Unused sub: Marcus Warren.
Yellow cards: Joe McCarthy 68mins and Radu-Mihal Stefanoaica 82mins.
Match photos
https://warefc.co.uk/album/leverstock-green-v-ware-25-10-2025/
