FC Romania (the Wolves) have had a turbulent season, taken over by a group looking to rehouse the club in Dunmow, they have recently been returned to their original owners. This was not without its complications and in the initial period under their new (old) management they struggled to retain players and rebuild.

On the evidence of this game, some recent heavy defeats are behind them and if they continue to play as well as they did here the reconstructed side has a real chance of avoiding relegation. They gave Ware a difficult time in the opening twenty minutes and looked anything but their second from bottom position in the league table.

Two tall centre backs in the shape of Mohamed Camara and Alexandru Dubniuc were a solid foundation whilst Ebenezer Addo Kufuor was a constant worry to the Ware defence. But if these three caught the eye the whole team responded with commitment and skill.

It took Ware time to come to terms with their opponents but it is to their credit that they rode that initial storm and mounted their own spell of pressure. Josh Williams was doing well on the right and might have expected better than to have his well-placed cross into the Wolves area skied over the bar. But he had his reward just after thirty minutes when Joe Dearman’s ball into the box found him unmarked and close in on goal.

Williams had no trouble putting the ball in the net but as the Ware players wheeled away in celebration a delayed offside flag was raised. The assistant thought the ball had been touched on by Leigh Rose before reaching the previously onside Williams. He might have had a point but the referee overruled him.

The home side were missing Camara, injured just before the break when he turned awkwardly but even so the second half started in the same way as the first with them moving the ball around well. They had their reward within five minutes of the restart when Matthew Campbell-Mhlope was on the end of a defence splitting move to equalise.

The Wolves continued to probe the Ware defence, hitting their crossbar on one occasion, and it looked for a time as though the game could turn against the visitors. Perhaps with that possibility in mind Paul Halsey switched his team around and brought on Brandon Adams and Liam Dulson. This allowed the diminutive Theo Ofori to escape the attentions of the towering central defenders, leaving that task to Adams whilst Dulson took over on the left. The front three had a better balance as a result.

However, it was Rose who put Ware back in the driving seat just before the hour ticked over when Joel Jacobs’ cross was half cleared to him beyond the penalty area. He didn’t hesitate to hammer it home from a good twenty yards.

If that was a turning point, the game clincher came in the last ten minutes. Dan Rumens’ long ball forward bounced awkwardly for the home defence and Adams seized his chance. Cutting between two defenders he was forced wide by keeper Borja Loeches Teixeira before rounding him and shooting home confidently from some way out.

It might have been 4-1 just before the end when Ofori twisted and turned his way close to the by-line and towards the six yard area. Not always willing to pass when it seems appropriate Ofori was right to continue on this occasion, his shot hitting Teixeira’s right hand post. Even then Dulson might have netted the rebound but a quick reaction from the home defence saw the ball cleared at the last moment.

Still, a 3-1 victory has ended a winless run in February. With the points that Ware had in the bag from earlier in the season the damage was not as bad as it could have been and not only do they still sit in the play-off places but they have moved back into third. But having used up their credit there is now no leeway and every game has the feel of a knock out cup game, starting with Walthamstow’s visit on Saturday.

Ware: Fred Burbidge, Marcus Milner, Joel Jacobs, Leigh Rose, Dan Rumens, Richard Bryan (Liam Dulson 55mins), Josh Williams (Brandon Adams 55mins), Declan Nche (Tom Bruno 75mins), Theo Ofori, Freddy Moncur, Joe Dearman. Unused subs: Rimmel Daniel, Rechan Esprit.