This match raised more questions than answers for Old Herts as to the direction of their season. There is certainly enough ability available to challenge for the top honours but will ongoing problems result in the failure to unlock this potential?
A win and Old Herts from an uncertain start to the season could have seen them challenging for a top three slot in the division, any other result would leave them in mid table obscurity. One indicative factor was apparent at the start of the match when no less than four experienced defenders, who would have expected to be in the starting XI were unavailable due to injury. The two goal hero from last week was also missing. These stalwarts and a settled starting line-up are needed quickly. Brinkley (he’s too kool for Skool!) came in for his first appearance of the season.
The boys in Lincoln Green kicked off and a move swiftly developed between Burman, Brinkley and Moss down the right flank. Jowitt and Morris were both quickly brought into the game defensively as Ware counter attacked. And then Smith hit a great through ball to Staines on the left wing but unfortunately he over run it. Staines was quickly back into the action though when a good throw from Reeves allowed him to exchange passes with Want and force a corner.
Reeves slid into a tackle against his opposite number, it was late, it was low, the studs were maybe up and it gained him a talking to from the referee. It did mean that the winger didn’t come near him again though!
Ware had a cross go wide, then they gained a free kick just outside the Old Herts box, but Bolton caught the shot easily enough. Baker passed the ball to Want on the right wing the ball was moved onto Moss overlapping. His cross was met by Baker’s head, but his effort was saved. Burman had to head the ball away and neatly found Brinkley who embarked on a strong run down the wing, his cross finding Smith whose header went wide.
Morris, who had a strong game at the back for Old Herts cleared the ball to Smith for him to tee up Want to shoot on goal, the Ware keeper making a smart save. The Ware Warriors had a breakaway attack, but Brinkley, Smith, Baker and Want combined for what this correspondent noted as the only move by the Greens in this match that involved more than three players!
The game then went away from Old Herts after 20 minutes, when slack defending at the back (caused by not having a settled backline?) allowed an unmarked Ware forward a shot that was firstly well saved by Bolton then the rebound was hit against the post and finally tapped in over the line.
Ware Warriors 1 Old Herts Athletic 0
Old Herts came strongly back into the game and five minutes later they were level. Burman passed the ball wide to Brinkley, his cross was low and accurate and Burman was at hand to knock the ball into the net from close range at the fast point.
Ware Warriors 1 Old Herts Athletic 1
Ware had a long shot that went wide, before Moss under pressure gave a free kick away.
Old Herts were nowhere tight enough in midfield, this again allowing Ware an unnecessary free shot on goal. This was to have consequences on 37 minutes when a Ware throw was flicked on and the Ware forward was allowed to turn and shoot successfully finding the back of the Old Herts net.
Ware Warriors 2 Old Herts Athletic 1
Poor Greens passing was causing them to lose possession too often, but the first half came to a close with a move involving Moss, Want and Baker and another strong Brinkley run.
At the half way stage Tanner came on for Baker and Barnes on for Reeves. An initial move saw Brinkley feed Smith down the left. Smith passed to Tanner, he turned, leant back, opened his body and curled the ball high into the Ware net for a fantastic finish on 47 minutes!
Ware Warriors 2 Old Herts Athletic 2
Brinkley then had a great shot that went just over before Smith gave away a free kick up front that relieved the pressure on Ware. Moss passed the ball up to Brinkley he fed the ball through to Tanner, but his cross was blocked. On 63 minutes Moss came off to be replaced by Parks.
A through ball from Ware forced Bolton to come off his line to clear and shortly after he was called into action again as he tipped a difficult curling shot over the bar. Want played the ball to Smith and received the ball back to force a corner.
A tendency to give cheap free kicks away was causing moves to break down up front and load pressure onto the defence at the back.
Barnes (he who cannot let his hair get in his eyes!) at left back made a good header to set up a further Old Herts attack. On 66 minutes Melhuish (he’d taken his head phones off by now!) replaced Want. Parks was involved in some good work from right back, passing onto Burman, who in turn knocked the ball to Melhuish whose run forced a corner.
Morris made a good defensive header away to Brinkley the ball going onto Burman and then Tanner.
Ware kept themselves in the game when their long shot was well saved by Bolton low to his left.
As the game approached 80 minutes it was becoming stretched and this is where the jury is out on Brinkley’s contribution. He has undoubted talent, he is physically strong, can control the ball and makes powerful runs. However his tendency not to bring other team members into the game and because he does not always track back when losing possession means that his partners in midfield are left short-handed at times.
Burman passed to Brinkley and his ball set Melhuish away to cross causing a frantic scramble in the Ware Warriors penalty area. There were a couple of late chances for the boys in Lincoln Green, which would have grabbed the glory, but the game ended in a slightly downbeat draw.
The plus side of this match showed that Old Herts have the spirit to battle back from being a goal down (they did it twice don’t forget),there is a desire from the boys to do well, but maybe some higher level of commitment is required.
Some team bonding half an hour after the match has finished to thrash out the frustrations is maybe the simple answer?
