Another exit from the FA Trophy at the qualifying stage means that Ware have been knocked out of the season’s three main cup competitions within the space of little more than a month. It does of course mean that they have swept the board clear to concentrate on their league aspirations. Every cloud and all that.

To be fair they were a little hard done by on an afternoon when they had plenty of the game with periods in which they dominated without finding a clinching goal or goals. This allowed the home side to come back at them with equal determination and at such times they were grateful to Fred Burbidge and his back four for keeping Witham at bay.

A draw would probably have been a fair result but sometimes a mistake here or a moment of skill there and a game can be decided. So it was with two minutes to go that a stray pass put Ware on the back foot and conceding a corner. It was delivered into a crowded six yard area and somehow it was Adam Vyse who got his foot to it amongst a crowd of players to poke home from short range for his second and deciding goal of the game.

Ware had started well despite the absence of Sam Chaney, injured the previous Saturday, and Richard Bryan, strategically rested but on the bench whilst also carrying a knock from the FC Romania game. As a result in came midfielder Freddy Moncur (pictured) for his debut after moving from Bowers & Pitsea and Josh Williams for his first start of the season. This allowed Marcus Milner to drop into the right back slot for his 150th Ware appearance.

It all started well enough for Ware as they had the better of the opening exchanges facing a strong, blustery wind with Rechan Esprit and Liam Dulson both having shots blocked by unknowing defenders as early as the third minute.

Yet it was all undone after 14 minutes when a long throw into the Ware area found Vyse with his back to goal. Everything seems to be going right for Witham’s top scorer this season so why wouldn’t he try a kick over his shoulder that put the ball into the top of the Ware net for a one nil lead. It was pretty much Witham’s first serious assault on the Ware goal and gave the home side the impetus to establish a period of control.

But in a match that ebbed and flowed Ware were back in the game just before the break. Josh Williams carried the ball forward under pressure from a defender who’s shirt tugging almost held him back. Williams persevered and made it into the Witham penalty area before being brought down. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Liam Dulson was equally efficient in burying the kick beyond Rhys Madden in the home goal.

The game continued to flow first one way and then the other in the second half with Moncur showing that he has plenty of skill on the ball but neither side could grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

Whilst Witham used up their substitutes in a bid to find an edge Paul Halsey kept his powder dry. It didn’t work and it was only after Vyse’s deciding goal that Ware brought on Jordon Watson and Jack Vasey in added time. It was all too late although, with even Burbidge in the opposition area for a corner, Madden needed good reactions to palm Moncur’s volley over the bar moments before the final whistle.

Ware: Fred Burbidge, Marcus Milner, Joel Jacobs (Jack Vasey 91mins), Tom Bruno, Chris Arthur, Dan Rumens, Josh Williams, Freddy Moncur, Renée Howe, Rechan Esprit (Jordon Watson 89mins), Liam Dulson. Unused subs: Richard Bryan, Lewis Horne-Haynes, Bailey Eden, Tyriq Hunte, Matthew Hermes.