Abbey defied their position in the nascent league table by outplaying their hosts comprehensively in the first 45 minutes. That they were only one goal ahead at half time was down to Fred Burbidge in the Ware goal and a couple of clear chances that were wasted. Even though Ware made a better fist of things after the break Abbey still managed to make scoring look easy to seal Ware's first three goal defeat since last November's reverse at Biggleswade. Ware recovered from that to record a 10-1 win in their next game but supporters will probably be satisfied with something less dramatic as long as their team get back to form at Welwyn Garden City on Monday.

Ware were without the suspended Dan Rumens for this game and the unavailable Marcus Milner whilst Leigh Rose was withdrawn at half time still suffering the effects of his injury against Biggleswade. All that may go some way to explaining Ware's below par performance but the visitors looked faster and more skilful from the start and for most of the game.

Even so it was Ware who made the better chances early on. Joel Jacobs' cross in the first ten minutes caused problems for the Abbey defence who were grateful when the ball eventually went behind at the far post. Five minutes later Rene Howe was just wide after good build up play involving Rechan Esprit, Liam Dulson and Jacobs but it was all calculated to deceive and Abbey were almost ahead immediately after when Nathaniel Orafu's shot was inches wide of Burbidge's post.

The visitors continued to look sharper and had their reward after 25 minutes when former Ware player Ace'a Laurent sent a free kick swooping and turning over the Ware defensive wall and into the top right corner of Burbidge's goal. The keeper hardly moved.

Ware might still have got back into the game three minutes later when Howe had a chance to equalise but his powerful header went over the bar. Instead Abbey should have gone further ahead just past the half hour mark. With the Ware defence in a muddle, they were fortunate that for once the visitors couldn't co-ordinate sufficiently well to bury a glorious chance as the ball slipped away from in front of goal and was cleared. Then with a minute of the first half left Laurent was through on goal with just Burbidge to beat but the Ware keeper did well to come forward and block his shot.

Kicking towards the home end in the second half Ware looked totally different and play was concentrated in Abbey's half. Twice crosses drifted just wide of a post with no-one able to put them in the net but this period came to an end on the hour when a quick break caught Ware on the hop and only a point blank save by Burbidge kept the deficit at one.

However this only delayed the visitors and it was 2-0 five minutes later when a corner from Ware's right was headed firmly into the net by Orafu. Corners were a problem for the Ware defence and a second almost produced a third goal until Burbidge made another point blank save.

Esprit's good run from deep leading to a fierce Dulson shot that Janata did well to turn away offered hope but Paul Halsey soon brought on his last two substitutes to liven matters up. It almost worked as Jordon Watson was free in the penalty area but his first touch for Ware since November 2019 let him down and the chance to add to his 24 goals was lost. Lewis Horne-Haynes, on loan from Aldershot Town, looked to have the potential to match the visitors speed and skill but with only 15 minutes left he didn't have enough time to impact the game.

Instead it was an Abbey substitute who completed the scoring. With Ware pushing forward at every opportunity they were always vulnerable to a quick break and so it was in added time that Osaretin Otote was able to run clear and deftly slide the ball past Burbidge to complete a good afternoon for the visitors.

Ware: Fred Burbidge, Richard Bryan, Joel Jacobs, Leigh Rose (Tom Bruno 45mins), Louis Rose, Chris Arthur, Tyriq Hunte (Jordon Watson 73mins), Rechan Esprit, Rene Howe, Sam Chaney (Lewis Horne-Haynes 73mins), Liam Dulson. Unused subs: Matthew Hermes, Bailey Eden.