This looked as though it would be the day on which Theo Ofori celebrated his move into a second century of appreances in front of an appreciative home crowd. He assisted for the opening goal and scored another with a masterful piece of solo football.
In the end though Ware’s hero turned out to be goalkeeper Max Woodford. Not eighteen until May, he was easily his team’s man of the match with a string of second half saves to keep Thame at bay. On loan from Stevenage, he clearly has the ability to go far. Ware will be grateful if they can hold on to him for the rest of the season.
With injuries and the unavailability of both Jay Rolfe and David Sota, Ware’s squad lacked depth going into this game. The response to Thame’s second half dominance looked a little thin as a result. Just two substitutes came off the bench in the second half with two members of the under-18 side sitting it out.
This was not the game to be caught short in either. Ware’s goals came early from breakaways but at the time that didn’t seem to matter. Thame had plenty of possession but were being kept at arm’s length in the manner we’ve come to expect from recent games.
So, a quick burst forward saw Ofori play the ball through to Reece Beckles-Richards who, attempting to turn his defender was dragged to the ground. It was a clear penalty and Beckles-Richards got to his feet to give Ware the lead from the spot after eleven minutes.
Five minutes later Beckles-Ricards returned the favour to Ofori who received the ball just inside the Thame half. The number ten carried it forward on a solo run, out pacing defenders as he shielded the ball from them. He reached the penalty area, turned past keeper John Pettitt and put the ball in the empty net.
Thame continued to look for their own opportunities but their efforts broke against the home defence until the final minute of the half. Harry Alexander was at last free of attention and with the time to drive the ball wide of Woodford for Thame’s opener.
Someone had to up their game in the second period and it turned out to be Thame. Crosses were coming in and headed chances, soon to go beyond count, were missed or safely gathered by Woodford, whilst shots were driven high or wide.
Meanwhile Ware were feeding off scraps with the spark that brought the first two goals somehow fading. One of Sami Moutawafiq’s corners almost caught out Pettitt who recovered to clear it away from under his cross bar.
On another occasion Ofori cut in but delayed on the opportunity leaving Beckles-Richards in a good position but without a pass. For much of the rest there were clearances into the Thame half but these were quickly returned to keep Ware under pressure.
At the other end Woodford was performing something of a master class, tipping shots over the bar, diving low to his right to gather the ball at the foot of his post, then soon repeating this to his left. Crosses were gathered or punched clear whilst another chance was blocked with his legs. When he was beaten a post came to the rescue.
Hopes that this would last to the final whistle were quashed five minutes from the end of normal time. A move down the Thame left saw the ball taken into the Ware area. There was the suspicion of a push on Gabe Ward as he was about to clear but no-one in the Ware side appealed and play moved on. Alexander was the man to benefit firing into the top of the net for his and his team’s second goal.
Ware survived the remaining minutes even coming back into contention with play finally ending in the Thame half. Even so the visitors will feel they let two points slip from them in this game though perhaps a draw was written in the stars. These teams have now met on fifteen occasions with an equal share of wins, draws and losses. Both have scored 26 goals.
Line-ups and cards
Ware: Max Woodford, Gabriel Ward, Sami Moutawafiq, Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo, Josh Okotcha, Jack Grosvenor, Rechan Esprit, Max Granville, Reece Beckles-Richards, Theo Ofori (Gabriel Chapps 75mins), Josip Jevdic (Jack Taylor 60mins). Unused subs: Andrew Bennett, Freddie Higgs.
No cards.
Thame United: John Pettitt, Callum Hall, Curtis Brown (Abuzar Khan 78mins), Finlay Murray (Ethan Lack 65mins), Luke Tingey, Marck Riddick (C) (Charlie Stow 75mins), Gregory Hackett (Lance Williams 39mins), Jack Tutton, Louis Walsh, Daniel West, Harry Alexander. No unused subs.
Yellow card: Finlay Murray 27mins.
