This was in some ways a closer game than the score suggests. The home side, fresh from a midweek win at Hadley, their first in twenty games, seemed to play with a spring in their step. They never gave up and in the last few minutes were putting pressure on a Ware side that looked mentally ready for the final whistle.
An end to end game for the most part would have satisfied even the most discerning neutral, such a pity then that the gate was so low at a very impressive venue. What those present saw was a game where possession and territory were shared fairly evenly but in which Ware always looked to have the edge.
Ware were also playing on the back of a midweek win but one in which they struggled at times to get the most out of the division’s bottom club. Unlike that game, here they made an early inroad into the Lane’s confidence. The home side had already fired in a couple of shots on the Ware goal before Josh Hutchinson struck on five minutes. Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo and Reece Beckles-Richards had both contributed to opening up the opponents’ defence before the latter’s cross found Hutchinson who slotted home with a shot on the turn.
Despite the home side’s ability to threaten a goal Ware continued to look the more dangerous and this was encapsulated in the battle between David Sota and Reuben Whittaker. The diminutive number eleven had speed and skill but rarely got beyond Sota and was often forced back and inside to try and find an opening.
In contrast Ware were creating chances with Beckles-Richards and Sam Mayuma both firing just over when the home defence was opened up. Rayners Lane refused to lie down however and continued to try to unsettle the Ware defence. But it was the visitors who had the ball in the net again only for Soulya-Osekanongo to be denied by a colleague coming back from an offside position.
A second goal arrived in due course with Jack Taylor’s lofted pass from distance providing the ammunition. Leigh Rose was on the end of it inside the penalty and quickly took the ball in his stride first past a defender then wide of keeper Matt Burrows to score from a narrowing angle.
It was his first goal since the 2023 game against Hertford in which both he and his late brother Louis reached the two hundred appearances mark. Rose, who later took over the captaincy in this game with great resolve, was surrounded by team mates offering their congratulations.
There was more good work in the second half with Sami Moutawafiq’s long run on goal being denied at the last but with the reward of a corner. After that Sota did well with twenty minutes to go rounding the home defence out wide on the Ware left. His cross eluded defenders in the six yard box and found Johnny Allotey who, just two minutes after coming off the bench, scored with his first touch of the game.
With the result now seemingly settled more substitutes were used as both sides sought to give playing time to their full squads. For the visitors that meant Theo Ofori, back from his time in Ghana, was in a Ware shirt again and he almost scored after being played in by Hutchinson’s deft flick. It also meant that the game began to wind down and the Lane saw the chance to get some consolation from it.
For the first time they started to pin Ware back and picked up a couple of corners as they pressed. They too had the ball in the net from an offside position but also appeared to get a yellow card. With the culprit unrecognised hopes that he would be identified in the after match stats proved false.
So, Ware recorded their fifth win in six games and were left to rue the black spot on that record, the points lost once again at Aylesbury. They may though take heart from the sight of Jack Grosvenor at this game. He expressed the belief that he could be fit in time for next Saturday’s important game at home to Biggleswade Town.
Line-ups and cards:
Ware: Fred Burbidge, Josh Okotcha, David Sota, Jack Taylor (Sami Moutawafiq 56mins), Leigh Rose, Jay Rolfe, Reece Beckles-Richards (C) (Johnny Allotey 69mins), Max Granville, Josh Hutchinson, Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo (Rechan Esprit 76mins), Sam Mayuma (Theo Ofori 76mins). Unused sub: Gabriel Ward.
For the second game running Ware received no cards.
Rayners Lane: Matt Burrows, Reece Price-Placid, Troy Silvera, Martin Yongah (Ayo Majekodunmi 68mins), Eric Schultz (Kershaney Samuels 40mins), Myles Anderson (C), Deshane Dalling, Kleyton Dowglas De Biazze Junior, Ade Gbolahan, Pharell Mensah (Omarr Lawson 76mins), Reuben Whittaker. Unused sub: Raekwon Bailey-Allen
Yellow cards: Troy Silvera 44mins, Unknown 86mins.
