Ware took their first three-point haul in the eight games since August’s win at Hertford. In a hard and fast contest there was little to choose between the two sides in a first half that ended goalless. But it was already clear that this was a different Ware team to the one that had struggled and slowly declined in the last few games.
Chalk and cheese comes to mind in considering the difference between this performance and Saturday’s failure at Thame United. For this game Sam Mayuma returned to the starting lineup after his recent injury and celebrated by scoring the opening goal half way through the second half. A corner, hardly more than a minute after Mayuma had hit the framework of Enfield’s goal with a header, came across the penalty area. The Ware number eleven, waiting near the eighteen yard line, stroked the ball through the Enfield defence to find the net.
Also making a start, and a rare one at that, was Tom Kay. Paul Halsey had a lot of good things to say about this young man early in the season but Kay has had only one other start (in the 4-1 win at Stotfold) whilst others from our youth teams have had their chances.
Young players can find the step up to senior level a difficult one but on this evidence, Kay has what it takes. Winning tackles and spreading the ball to his team mates was as good as you should expect from a midfielder but he also seemed unafraid to get stuck in to the physical side of the game against some sizeable opponents in the Enfield defence. He can surely expect to get more opportunities to hone his talent in the near future.
At the back Joe Dearman once again found himself at full back and once again showed how dependable he is in this position. Raiding up the wing as did Stef Georgiou, there were plenty of chances to open up and unsettle the visiting defence. Late on it was Dearman’s cross that found Johnny Allotey close in and with an easy task of putting the ball away for Ware’s second goal.
It capped an excellent performance by the young wide man whose diminutive frame belied his ability to cut through the opposition on numerous occasions during the second half.
In an excellent all round showing by the home team there was just one fly in the ointment. An injury time goal by Sami Bessadi after some head tennis in the penalty area ended Ware’s chance of a first clean sheet of the season. It was another late goal conceded and it meant Ware stayed below Enfield on goal difference. But with the frustration came a necessary reminder that there is clearly still work to be done.
And it has to be admitted that Enfield had their moments, hitting the Ware crossbar earlier in the half and firing another good chance wide. They may well feel that they deserved to get on the score sheet in what had been a close and entertaining contest.
Interestingly Ware had played the full ninety minutes without using a substitute and only as the clock ticked over into added time did Lewis Thomas come on for Jon Clements who had chased every ball and harried his opponents throughout the game.
Meanwhile David Sota, still to play this season, sat out the game on the bench. Can his return from injury be far away now?
Ware: Fred Burbidge, Stef Georgiou, Joe Dearman, Tom Kay, Mackye Townsend-West, Jay Rolfe, Johnny Allotey, Max Granville, Jon Clements (Lewis Thomas 90mins), Freddy Moncur, Sam Mayuma. Unused subs: Gabriel Chapps, David Sota, Mitch Hahn, Josh Okotcha.