Ware 1 AFC Dunstable 2

Ware’s winning run of home games in 2024 was ended by a quick brace of goals from Dunstable’s Arnold Matshazi with twenty minutes to go. Until then both sides had had their chances but it always looked possible that whoever scored first would go on to win the game.

As a consequence, Ware have lost third place in the table and whilst other results have combined to confirm their place in the play-offs Ware’s chances of a home draw in the semi-final have taken a blow.

Ware worked hard after a goalless first half but like Dunstable things mostly fizzled out once in their opponents’ penalty area. It was a long clearance from one such attack that fell to Daniel Idiakhoa on the Dunstable left. He got his cross in and there was Matshazi suddenly free to turn the ball into the Ware net.

Three minutes later he had doubled the score, this time set free by a defence splitting pass he shot over the advancing Fred Burbidge and the ball went in off the cross bar.

With things looking bleak for Ware a second striker in the shape of Kieran Bishop came on at Mitch Hahn’s expense but it made little difference. Ware ran into too many dead ends in the final third.

They had had their chances in an entertainingly even game. Twice in the first half when first Theo Ofori had brought the ball forward from inside his own half past numerous defenders before reaching the goal line. His cross was met by Hahn who had no problem in putting it into the net until the assistant's flag was raised for offside.

Joe Dearman might have done better when he shot from the left along the goal line but, perhaps hoping that power and surprise that he hadn’t passed to a colleague in the six yard area would beat Sebastain Stacey in the Dunstable goal, he shot straight at the keeper who gathered safely.

The visitors had their chances too especially in the opening minutes when they enjoyed their best spell of the first half. Ben Weyman’s cross after ten minutes caused a collision between Burbidge and Matshazi when the ball was cleared. Five minutes later Rocko Tamplin’s cross could have been dealt with better by Louis Walsh who missed a good opportunity to score.

Ware’s best chance came at the midpoint of the second half with the game still goalless. Ofori cut across the Dunstable area from the right. Some have suggested that a simple lay off to the well place Jon Clements would have seen Ware take the lead but in the circumstances most players would have done as Ofori did. His shot seemed destined for the goal until Stacey made a great one-handed save at the cost of a corner. With hindsight it was clearly the turning point of the match.

At two goals down Ware strove to get back into contention and eventually did so in added time when Richard Ennin forced the ball home from a corner. Their next attack had the crowd baying for an equaliser but it petered out and shortly after that the excellent Mr Barnett drew things to a close with the final whistle.

After the match, Ware manager Paul Halsey was phlegmatic about the result preferring to concentrate on the fact that Ware have made the play-offs for the third season running. Whether this is a record breaking achievement is hard to say but what Ware have learnt from their previous involvement at this stage of the season is that anything can happen. Halsey knows that they are in with a fighting chance and will make the most of it.

Ware: Fred Burbidge, Stef Georgiou (Richard Ennin 46mins), David Sota, Alex Warman, Ekow Coker, Jack Grosvenor, Theo Ofori, Mitch Hahn (Kieran Bishop 76mins), Jon Clements, Jack Dreyer, Joe Dearman. Unused subs: George Ironton, Freddy Moncur, Ben Siggers.