Ware 0 North Leigh 0

It's hard to know what to make of this result. Does it mean two points lost or one point gained after Ware played the last thirty minutes with only ten men?

What can't be argued is that after a cagey first half when both sides had periods of ascendancy this grew into a thoroughly entertaining contest as Ware started to take control and somehow grew stronger after Louis Rose was sent off.

It was North Leigh applying the pressure early on though as Ware struggled to gain any traction. A low cross from the right was claimed by Brad Robinson at the second attempt but for all their pressure the visitors didn't really threaten until near the break when Chris Arthur appeared like a genie out of a magic lamp to clear off the line with Robinson beaten.

But this game was no Christmas pantomime and there was controversy when Tom Bruno was yellow carded for a tackle on Callum McNish. Bruno had slid in for the ball and got his foot to it fractions of a second before McNish arrived and kicked what by now was something of an immoveable object. He went down in pain with his team mates surrounding the referee asking for a red card whilst Ware were left to wonder if it was even a foul at all. In awarding Bruno a yellow card Mr Roque satisfied no-one, establishing something of a theme for the rest of the game.

Ware had their chances in the first half with Robbie Buchanan's run and cross seeing the ball pass somehow between the two Liams, Hope and Dulson, with an unguarded goal at their mercy. Dave Kendall's header was denied by a great save from Adam North at the expense of a corner from which Albert Adu headed just over whilst Hope had a header cleared off the line.

The second half saw Ware getting into their stride with balls sometimes spread wide whilst at other times spontaneous, close and intricate passing enabled them to make ground towards the home end. As with the first half however they came up against a strong and disciplined defence which, if a little robust for Ware tastes though apparently not the referee's, kept them at bay.

What might have been the turning point came when Ben Brown's clearance fell to Connor McDonagh who was free to run on goal. Louis Rose chased him and they collided with McDonagh brought down just outside the Ware penalty area. Deemed to be the last player (an assertion disputed loudly by Ware and perhaps a little less loudly by even some in the North Leigh camp) Rose was red carded and will now miss the Hertford game.

Surprisingly perhaps Ware responded by upping their game and whilst the visitors tried to exploit their man advantage they didn't get many opportunities. Paul Halsey brought on Josh Williams for Hope and moved Dulson into the centre giving Ware a three pronged attack which looked very lively and had their opponents back pedalling for much of the time. They certainly had their chances not least when Buchanan contrived to head well wide when clear in front of goal or when he was brought down in the penalty area only to be waved away by the officials. It just wasn't to be their day.

Unless Omicron steps in to cause a postponement Ware now have to prepare for their next home game. The main aim will be to fill the gaps left with now two central defenders missing. However, the appearance on the substitutes bench of the well-regarded Under-18 player Mayvin Vigneswaran suggests that the pool of talent has not yet been run dry.

Ware: Brad Robinson, Marcus Milner, Chris Arthur, Tom Bruno, Louis Rose, Dave Kendall, Robbie Buchanan, Albert Adu, Liam Hope (Josh Williams 74mins), Taufee Skandari, Liam Dulson. Unused subs: James Mulley, Rechan Esprit, Mayvin Vigneswaran, Michael Bardle.