The approach to North Leigh’s ground is along an unmade way through tall trees. It’s almost as if you are entering a different world maybe to see a game behind closed doors in a secret location. Those few people who ventured there for this match might have wished the doors had been closed on them.

This was indeed not the most entertaining of games though North Leigh, bottom of the table and with a points total still in single figures, will have been happy enough with the result. They certainly played as if unfettered by thoughts of looming relegation though on the basis of possession and chances Ware ought to have come away with more than a draw.

This was despite the unavailability of Jay Rolfe which meant Chukuma Okotcha was moved to the middle of the back four with Johnny Allotey having to take over at full back. Also unavailable was George Ironton but the compensation was the return of Sami Moutawafiq from injury although he wore a protective mask covering his recently broken nose. It looked a decent squad to build on the previous week’s win.

That said the home side might have had a goal as early as the first five minutes when David Sota’s header back to Fred Burbidge brought the best save of the afternoon out of the Ware keeper as he turned the unexpected back pass round the post for a corner.

A few minutes later Joe Dearman was just wide with a powerful shot from outside the area at the other end of the pitch but that was as close as both sides came to a shot on target until almost half time when the Millers broke and George Rushton’s low shot needed Burbidge to again turn the ball wide for a corner. Even later Sam Mayuma was just wide with a header from Dearman’s cross.

Dearman’s crosses were a feature of this game particularly in the second half when Ware, playing down the pronounced slope at Eynsham Park, sought constantly for an opening. The usual route was a long ball out to Dearman wide on the left and he was always willing to test the opposition’s defensive ability as he looked for an opening to get the ball into their penalty area.

It has, however, been the story of the season that even when crosses reach the area in front of goal Ware find them difficult to convert. It was no different in this game as tall defenders headed them clear or Ware’s front men just couldn’t get a telling contact with the ball. Three separate occasions saw the ball somehow cleared off the goal line or close to it with no-one near enough to get it into the net.

The outcome was Ware’s first goalless draw since April 2024 and just their fourth clean sheet this league season. Maybe not so unlikely as it was the third scoreless game between these clubs in the seven meetings they have had. It was a rare point for North Leigh and was celebrated accordingly when the final whistle blew but following Ware’s 4-0 win in the home fixture it means the Millers will be the only side not to have scored against them this season.

Mackye Townsend-West suffered a dislocated shoulder during the match and whilst it was rectified on the pitch, he was replaced by Lewis Thomas who made his first appearance since November’s senior cup win over Royston. Thomas looked sharp after his long layoff but it is hoped that Townsend-West will be fit enough for next Saturday’s visit of Kings Langley.

Ware: Fred Burbidge, Johnny Allotey (Ike Okwusogu 80mins), Joe Dearman, Chukuma Okotcha, Mackye Townsend-West (Lewis Thomas 71mins), David Sota, Max Granville, Sami Moutawafiq, Jon Clements, Guuci Soulya-Osekanongo, Sam Mayuma. Unused subs: Tom Kay, Exauce Kifwasima.