Waltham Forest 2-3 Ware
Tony Martin’s late winner deep into added time meant Ware’s brief return to the bottom of the table lasted less than seventy-two hours as they completed a double over Waltham Forest to climb two places to twentieth in the table.
On a blustery afternoon at Ilford’s Cricklefield Stadium, and on an uneven playing surface the opening period was at times scrappy, but a direct route from a Harry Larner throw in saw the first opportunity with Adrian Clifton heading the ball back towards his own goal and over his keeper Chico Ramos but the ball was cleared from off the goal line by a covering defender to spare the skippers blushes.
Half chances fell for both sides with Clifton heading over and Josh Bronti heading straight at Ramos at the other end.
As the half wore on it was the home side who started to settle with Tim Monsheju shooting over from the edge of the box before Manu Dagher shot wide from a similar range.
Some decent Waltham Forest build up was rewarded when Luke Stanley played the ball inside to Dagher who lifted the ball over Kwame Fordah and into the net.
Dagher almost added to the tally shortly before the break after being played in, he was first denied by a good tackle from Larner, but winning the ball back Dagher was able to get a shot away that was well saved by Fordah.
Ware were much improved in the second period and when Larner cut in his cross-cum-shot was palmed away by Ramos.
Ramos was again called into action to deny Dave Hunt who shot from the edge of the box, the keeper got down well to his left to palm the ball wide of the goal. Liam Foster was also able to bring a save from Ramos when he got away from his man down the right, cut inside and forced the save at the near post.
With Ware starting to get on top a Waltham Forest break saw the ball played across the box for Stanley who was making a run towards the near post, he went down under a challenge from Dave Corran who was adjudged to have fouled him and a penalty was awarded. After a delay due to Stanley receiving treatment Clifton stepped up to fire home the penalty in the corner of the net.
Ware gave themselves hope with ten minutes remaining when a Larner free kick was flicked on and Louis Rose managed to get his head to it before the keeper could make contact cushioning his header over Ramos to score.
Larner shot wide from a tight angle and Rose had a shot from the edge of the box straight at Ramos as Ware looked to find a leveler, but it was when debutant Leon Simpson got himself into the box and the imposing forward was brought down the chance arrived. Jon Stevenson stepped up to calmly send Ramos the wrong way to score.
With Forest shell shocked at the turn around, worse was to come for them, as the ball found its way through to Martin, on as a substitute, finding only Ramos between him and the goal he tucked the ball away in the corner with a left footed effort, six minutes into the seven minutes of added time.
Report: Ware FC
Image: David Purday (www.stavros-sports.com)
