There’s to be no slow burn to this campaign then. Saturday’s draw at Biggleswade when the home side came back from two down was exciting enough but was surpassed by this game as Ware recovered from three behind. And it was all played out in front of a decent sized crowd, the division’s best so far in this fledgling season.
It didn’t start that way and the game itself took fifty minutes to become a real contest. Up until then the visitors had been on top as Ware struggled against a strong and skilful side. Too strong for some in the crowd and they would have felt justified with Borough picking up five yellows except Ware weren’t far behind with four.
Certainly, the game fizzed and whilst it was a close call at times tempers were held in check allowing the crowd to watch an entertaining game without distractions. In the first half that entertainment came from the visitors who took the lead in the fourth minute.
The unmarked Leo Griffiths’ effort came out of the blue from twenty yards or more. Fred Burbidge was rooted to the ground but would not in any case have been able to do anything about a perfectly placed shot into the top of his net.
In fact Ware were caught napping several times as through balls found them off guard and allowed Borough to slice through their defence. Some desperate defending kept the score to one for much of the rest of the half.
By contrast at the other end of the pitch Ware were made to look sluggish. Josh Hutchinson was caught four times with his back to goal waiting for a pass to reach him. Each time a defender saw the danger and blocked any chance of the move developing.
On one such occasion the ball was whipped back into the Ware half. There was Sami Bessadi bearing down on goal and this time there was no saving tackle as he put the visitors further ahead with just thirty minutes gone.
Borough looked a whole step higher at this point. Goodness knows what Anthony Woodford, the former Ipswich player made of it in his first match for Ware. Yet by the end of the game, he almost scored the winner for the home side, sending his shot just wide after picking up a headed clearance.
Before all that though there was more torment to come. As home fans settled down in hopes of a recovery at the start of the second half Borough struck again. It was another simple looking goal, the kind that can make you think it was gifted by the defence. But the visitors’ speed and ability to cut to the chase was the determining factor. Zack Newton’s cross from the right found Leo Lopete coming in from the left and a simple header made it 3-0.
Yet with Ware seemingly out for the count they took a whiff of the smelling salts and started their come back. A lot of work was being done in midfield but the counter punches were what caught the eye. Sam Mayuma on the left and Rechan Esprit on the right had a new lease of life and suddenly the game was changing. Defenders were being outpaced and turned for crosses to be delivered.
Still, it was a free kick that broke the dam. Jack Taylor lofted the ball into the penalty area and this time it was Ware who made scoring look easy as Hutchinson, getting away from his defender, headed home from the edge of the six yard box.
At this point Borough replaced their captain and impressive looking defender Jorge Sambu. He had already picked up a yellow card and was looking in danger of getting a second. Maybe this was a further boost to Ware. In any event belief was now apparent as Ware started to dominate.
Ten minutes after the first goal came the second. Mayuma took a throw on the left to Hutchinson on the edge of the penalty area. The number nine turned his man, laid the ball off to Mayuma who had now drifted almost unseen into the action and he took it across the box before shooting low through a crowd of players.
For a while it looked as though Ware must equalise but hope could have taken a knock with fifteen minutes left. Khale Da Costa returned a clearance from the edge of the Borough area first time with the outside of his boot. It looked good until the ball hit the intersection of post and bar but the disappointment didn’t dent Ware’s belief.
Four minutes later they had their equaliser. Mayuma picked up the ball and drove into the penalty area. Seemingly being forced wide by two defenders he got his shot away and as other defenders sought to cover the goal the ball took a deflection into the net.
As a mark of Haringey’s quality they didn’t give way and the goal was followed by a lengthy period during which Ware were pinned in their own half. Four minutes of added time frayed the nerves but the final whistle signalled what had once seemed a scarcely believable point.
Haringey will be disappointed to have drawn from a clear winning position but they look a very strong side and should be one of the promotion contenders come the season’s end.
Line-ups and cards
Ware: Fred Burbidge, Finlay Titchmarsh, David Sota, Herbie Townsend (C) (Max Granville 87mins), Josh Okotcha, Anthony Wordsworth, Khale Da Costa, Jack Taylor (Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo 75mins), Josh Hutchinson, Rechan Esprit, Sam Mayuma. Unused subs: Theo Ofori, Reece Beckles-Richards, Ekow Coker.
Yellow cards: Sam Mayuma 59mins, David Sota 70mins, Herbie Townsend 87mins, Josh Okotcha 92mins.
Haringey Borough: Dillan Barnes, Cem Poyraz, Sami Bessadi, Michael O’Donoghue, Jorge Sambu (C) (Daniel Awokere 52mins), Zack Newton, Herson Alves, Leo Lopete, Reo Griffiths (Georgios Aresti 71mins), Luke Ifil, Ralston Gabriel (Adrian Clifton 62mins). Unused subs: Jonathan Hippolyte, Stef Georgiou.
Yellow cards: Jorge Sambu 34mins, Cem Poyraz 47mins, Zack Newton 59mins, Georgios Aresti 74mins, Dillon Barnes 94mins.
