Harlow Town 3 Ware 0

Well, that’s almost it. The desk has been swept clear of nearly all other distractions, just the little matter of the Herts Senior Cup in the far corner, and there’s a clear area left so that we can get on with league fixtures. Hopefully there will not be any effect on morale after the worst week results-wise for a long time.

That week started at Kidderminster where the home side took a 2-0 lead into the half time break and scored a third in the last ten minutes. This game followed the same pattern as the home side eased themselves into the next round of the league cup.

Not for the first time this season Ware conceded a very early goal. Taking his lead from Hemel’s Gus Scott-Morris and Harriers’ Amari Morgan-Smith from the two home FA Cup games, Junior Dadson (sadly no double barrelled surname to complete the set with) gave Harlow the lead in the first minute.

That might have been it for the first half but for Samson Maagbe scoring on his debut just two minutes before the break. Ware’s best chance had fallen to Liam Dulson when he rounded Thomas Middlehurst in the home goal but he couldn’t get his foot far enough round the ball to shoot home from a difficult angle.

Instead the scoring was completed with ten minutes to go when Dadson scored his second of the night.

Ware’s bench was full of players normally likely to start games as Paul Halsey took the chance to rest as many of his first team as possible. Liam Hope and Brad Robinson were given the night off, in the case of the latter allowing Ethan Gannon to get a deserved outing between the posts.

These absentees gave Tom Bruno the chance for his first start since the FA Cup win at Colney Heath and also provided a place for William Dupray to make his debut for the club. At the back Dave Kendall took a centre back position but with Louis Rose rested and Dan Rumens injured there was no other recognised central defender.

Halsey will be hoping that the rested players will come back refreshed as he now has to prepare for two difficult games. This Sunday’s opponents, Aylesbury United, scored an impressive 5-1 success at Wantage whilst AFC Dunstable, who were 2-1 winners at league leaders North Leigh, come to the Park on the following Saturday. There should be a cup atmosphere for that game.

Ware: Ethan Gannon, Marcus Milner, Pat Adamson, William Dupray (Leigh Rose 78mins), Dave Kendall, Chris Arthur, Albert Adu (Robbie Buchanan 65mins), Tom Bruno, Liam Dulson, Rechan Esprit, Reece Crowter (Taufee Skandari 65mins). Unused subs: Louis Rose, James Mulley