Sothend Manor 0 Ware 5

Football was back after almost six months as this season’s FA Cup got under way at the Southchurch Arena in front of a good sized crowd. For Ware the game with Step 5 Southend Manor represented something of a banana skin but in the end they negotiated it well. They also stilled any fears that last season’s form might have been dissipated during the lockdown as, aside from the last few minutes, they controlled the first half before running away with the tie in the second period.

The starting line up contained no new names although George Casey and Marcus Milner were returnees after time away. Those hoping to see some of the new hopefuls that Paul Halsey has brought in to the side were disappointed with only Jordan Westcott being given a chance twelve minutes from time. It was not long enough for him to settle into the rhythm of the game though he certainly put himself about and one cross field pass to pick out Milner suggests that there are good things to come from him.

Ware might have taken the lead after ten minutes when a corner caused confusion in the Manor box before a shot was cleared from the line but they only had to wait another five minutes to strike. Again, it was a corner which Pat Adamson swung over from the right into the middle of the penalty area where Leigh Rose was clear to head wide of Michael Acquah in the home goal.

There were other chances not least when Andre McCollin burst through and turned his defender before seeing his shot hit the base of Acquah’s left hand post. Mostly however Ware seemed to be playing a waiting game, keeping the home attack at bay whilst unable to turn their own attacks into goals.

The home side were kept at a distance from the Ware goal and Calum Kitscha was untroubled apart from one of several long-range free kicks that he held comfortably enough under his cross bar. Manor’s best chance came in the second half when Kitscha had to dive at full stretch to tip a ball over the bar.

By then however the game was drifting away from Southend as Ware played more confidently. Just before the break the visitors had seemed to lose their way with clearances being made without enough thought causing attacks to break down as a result but a quick goal on the resumption did wonders for morale and play started to flow again.

The second half was barely a minute old when the ball dropped into the Manor area and Kendall, who seemed to be everywhere on the night, was on hand to stab it into the net with the home side possibly still in the dressing room.

The number five did it again 15 minutes later when a Tom Bruno corner from the left was floated into the six-yard box and Kendall appeared from a ruck of players to head home.

With half an hour to go the game was effectively won but there was still time for two more goals both from substitutes. Louis Rose, on for Dan Rumens whose hamstring injury may well rule him out for a number of games, made the most of his opportunity when another Bruno corner was only partially cleared. He was on hand to shoot home from just inside the six-yard area.

Albert Adu had the travelling support singing his name when he made it 5-0 on 77 minutes. Initially it was a Bruno free kick that Adu met only to see his shot hit the cross bar before being cleared for a corner. Once again that man Bruno took the kick and this time Adu made no mistake, heading the ball home from close range.

Ware now go back to Essex for the next round on Saturday, September 12th where they face fellow Isthmians Canvey Island in what they must expect to be a closer contest.

Ware: Calum Kitscha, George Casey, Pat Adamson, Leigh Rose (Jordan Westcott 78mins), Dave Kendall, Dan Rumens (Louis Rose 68mins), Marcus Milner, Tom Bruno, Liam Hope, Andre McCollin (Albert Adu 72mins), Williams Danquah. Unused subs: Gareth Madden, Finlay Titchmarsh, Reece Crowter, Frazer John.