Ware’s starting line-up reverted to something akin to that of two games before. Some who had played their part in the thrashing of AFC Dunstable seven days earlier were back on the substitutes bench at kick off.
The Greens meanwhile showed eight changes to the squad that lost at home to Ware in October. The changes seem to have turned the current side into a well-drilled and skilful team. Ware, themselves showing seven changes from that match, were second best to them in this one.
Almost immediately the visitors were on the attack and yes, they were physical but within the bounds of a team wanting a victory. They had, after all, just won five games on the trot and nothing breeds success like success. The desire to keep their run going was obvious. They played well as a team, ran for each other and were simply sharper in thought and deed than Ware.
As a result, they were a goal up after just nine minutes. Fed Burbidge had already saved with his feet after Iker Leon had got himself into a shooting position but Joe McCarthy gave him no chance two minutes later. As Ware attempted to move the ball up field Kambe Kawimbe made a quick interception and his first time pass found McCarthy going one way as the defence were heading in the opposite direction. There were claims that he was offside but video evidence doesn’t bear this out.
Ware responded and for much of the rest of the game their approach work was good but they came up short in the final third. Either they could make no further progress against disciplined defenders or chances were hit high or wide.
It’s hard to recall if Ashton Broom-Alexander in the Greens’ goal was required to make a save throughout the entire match. What he did do was command his penalty area, appearing from a clutch of players to cut out crosses and chivvying his defenders to keep them alert.
Burbidge on the other hand was in action again turning a Leon shot round a post but he was beaten on the half hour. Leon’s corner from in front of the clubroom was delivered just outside the six yard area. There was Carmicheal Uchenna coming in with no close marker to head the ball home for two-nil. From Ware’s point of view, for all their opponents’ speed and skill in the game it was another preventable, soft goal.
There were changes at half time but not necessarily what supporters had expected. Top scorer Reece Beckels-Richards plays out wide in the current set up and there was an expectation that he would return to a striker’s role. His place out wide could then be taken by either Johnny Allotey or Theo Ofori.
In fact the changes were in midfield with Jack Taylor and Rechan Esprit replacing Sami Moutawafiq and Gucci Soulya. And when wide men did arrive off the bench it’s fair to say the change didn’t bring any significant improvement.
Instead, Ware kept plugging away and if they continued to have the greater number of half chances it was the visitors who squandered some real opportunities after picking their way through the Ware defence. One cross appeared to go right across the face of the Ware goal just begging to be touched in yet somehow the chance was shunned.
Given other results, Ware can’t now finish higher than seventh. That will be enough to qualify for the prosed new play-off system next season and is an improvement on last season’s tenth place. However, Ware’s three consecutive finishes at fifth or higher are beginning to feel like distant history.
Line-ups and cards:
Ware: Fred Burbidge, Josh Okotcha, David Sota, Sami Moutawafiq (Jack Taylor 45mins), Leigh Rose, Jay Rolfe, Reece Beckles-Richards (C) (Johnny Allotey 61mins), Max Granville (Theo Ofori 66mins), Josh Hutchinson, Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo (Rechan Esprit 45mins), Sam Mayuma. Unused sub: Gabriel Ward
Yellow cards: Sami Moutawafiq 41mins, Rechan Esprit 93mins.
Leverstock Green: Ashton Broome-Alexander, Callum Neal, Rio Beach, Dan Pett (C), Kombe Kawimbe, Ademide Baruwa, Joe McCarthy, Carmicheal Uchenna, Jeffrey Sekyere, Iker Leon (Marcus Warren 79mins), Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (George Eddridge 79mins). Unused subs: Ryan Carruthers, Nat Connolly, George Mitchell-Gears.
No cards were shown to Leverstock Green.
