Ware 0 Brentwood Town 2

This was not the result that Ware wanted or needed. A hard working display went, as is so often the case when a club is at the wrong end of the table, unrewarded as early chances were scrambled away.

After a positive start by the home side it was the visitors who drew strength from Ware's inability to convert chances and after hitting a post Brentwood went on to take the lead before half time. A second goal on the break sealed the points for the Essex side and with Cheshunt's win at Barking leaves Ware just one place above the relegation spot.

It looked good in the opening exchanges with Josh Oyibo spearheading several raids on the Brentwood goal. His cross after beating a man opened up the visiting defence but it was headed goalwards and parried by Anthony Page with the rebound being hit straight at him by Jordon Watson. Oyibo then had another shot just wide whilst a through ball was poorly dealt with by Page but cleared for a corner.

Brentwood were giving away numerous free kicks in this period as Ware applied pressure but it was the home side that received the first yellow card of the evening when Gareth Madden was penalised in stopping a Brentwood attack. Tony Stokes had already hit a post for the visitors but they went one better from the free kick which was headed home by Danny Dafter with ten minutes to go before half time.

The second half saw Ware putting together some positive football with Harley Haag and Leigh Rose both having chances. But with 15 minutes left a long clearance from Page reached Brad Hunter whose first shot was saved only for him to bury the rebound.

The defeat leaves Ware four points above Romford and with two games in hand but they have now gone five games without a point and face some tough fixtures in the immediate future. Their last home win was at the beginning of October and it was one that took them to fifteen points out of their opening nine games.

It all looked so promising then and morale has clearly been affected as a team of more than capable players have dropped some unnecessary points. A draw is the least that will be needed to revive optimism as the run-in to the season's end becomes more intense.

Ware: Harry Voss, Charlie Yexley, Dominique Njoya, Josh Oyibo, Damien Green, Gareth Madden, Marcus Milner, Ace'a Laurent, Harley Haag (Anthony Furlonge 76mins), Leigh Rose (Ivan Machado 76mins), Jordon Watson. Unused subs: Finley Long, Conor Okus.