Was this defeat self-inflicted? For the first twenty-five minutes the game was all Ware. Abbey couldn’t keep hold of the ball, losing out in tackles or just giving the ball away as Ware built attack on attack. Every forward movement by the visitors evoked an air of confidence as they slid the ball from one to another.

All that was needed was a goal to set events in motion. Joe Dearman was raiding down the right side and Liam Dulson was able to exploit the left where Abbey’s Usman Temitope was having a difficult time. By contrast the Ware defence was looking in good order with central defenders Dan Rumens and new signing Ekow (say “echo”) Coker in control of the few advances made by the home side.

There was just the nagging feeling that if they didn’t soon capitalise on their superiority the visitors might come to regret it. That feeling was strengthened on twenty-five minutes after Abbey won their first corner. The ball was played short along the goal line to a home player who took it past a defender before laying it across the six yard box.

No one got near it until it reached a clutch of three home players of whom Kieron Cathline was the first or maybe the closest to react. It looked a simple tap in to give Abbey the lead against the run of play. It also gave them belief and they looked a different side after that. They didn’t yet take control of the game but Ware no longer had everything their own way.

They still had chances not least when Mitch Hahn was free just outside the penalty area but his intended lob dropped comfortably into the hands of former Ware custodian Brad Robinson. At the back Ware were beginning to hesitate and heave the ball up field to relieve pressure rather than play it out of trouble.

It all came undone on the verge of half time. The ball was lost and, in an attempt to regain it, was played back towards Fred Burbidge but without enough power. Abbey’s Ben Baker was on to it and, unchallenged, went through to beat the exposed keeper for the second goal.

If Ware had started the second half in the way they started the first there might have been the chance to recover the situation. Instead, it was the home side who started brightly.

Ten minutes in they somehow missed the chance to make it 3-0 when the ball was hacked away from close in on goal when it looked easier to score. Within a minute there was another close call for Ware after Burbidge’s one-handed save on the goal line.

Looking to freshen up the forward line Paul Halsey took off Gabriel Chapps and replaced him with returning favourite Keiran Bishop for his first game since the 2015/6 season. It was his 100th appearance for Ware but there was little else to celebrate.

Within two minutes it was 3-0. Abbey were now the ones playing the right kind of pass and a well-directed one from defence had Ware exposed on their left before it was crossed for Baker to score his second of the game.

A fourth goal seemed inevitable as Ware were under the cosh from an Abbey side that were playing some very good football. It came in much the same fashion as the third except that it was Sam Shaban who finished off the move. Not without being offside according to some but the officials didn’t think so and the goal stood.

Ware’s consolation came as the game moved into added time when Bishop played the ball across the Abbey penalty area and Liam Dulson shot home. It was of course too little and too late.

If they’re not careful, Ware’s up and down form will have the season stuttering towards a midtable finish. Saturday’s disappointed fans may still hope that all is not lost but a lack of consistency is proving a worry.

Ware: Fred Burbidge, Stef Georgiou, David Sota, Mitch Hahn, Ekow Coker, Dan Rumens, Joe Dearman, Freddy Moncur, Ramiah Mills (Richard Ennin 74mins), Gabriel Chapps (Kieran Bishop 62mins), Liam Dulson. Unused subs: Matt Walsh, Jack Dreyer, Michael Toner.