Shaheim Ward’s equalising strike in the first half gave Real Bedford a point against a well-organised Ware side at the Ledger Stadium on Saturday afternoon as both teams battled out a 1-1 draw in Southern League Central Division One.
Jon Clements had given last season’s play-off semi finalists an early lead but Ward’s composed finish restored parity, with neither able to find a winner.
Ware were looking to bounce back from a 2-1 home defeat to Welwyn Garden City last weekend, while Rob Sinclair’s men were back in league action after their FA Trophy victory against Leighton Town last Friday night.
The opening throws were mainly down the Real right wing; Josh Setchell getting involved from the off with his early cross not strong enough to meet the oncoming Joey Evans, who would have had an easy tap in should the ball have reached him.
Ware’s first opportunity came after ten minutes and it was a good one as Jonny Allotey played in Jon Clements who had time to chest it down and settle himself before dragging wide.
Two goals in ten minutes
It wasn’t long before Clements was on the scoresheet; moments after a Setchell effort had been ruled out for offside, Ware had mounted a counter attack, finished off with aplomb by Clements to give Ware a lead on 13 minutes.
Setchell had a chance to hit back almost immediately as he broke through, but his effort was well kept out by Fred Burbidge in the Ware goal, but it wasn’t long before the Pirates were back on level terms.
Isaac Galliford played in Ben Stevens down the left channel and his shot was blocked, but it fell to the feet of Shaheim Ward with acres of space in the penalty area, giving him plenty of time to find the bottom corner.
Further chances for Stevens and Evans came and went, before Stefanos Georgiou fired a shot across goal, only for no Ware attacker to gamble on the end of it as both sides went into the break at one-apiece.
Real Bedford had the better of the second half, and certainly more of the ball as they continued to try and find a way through a sturdy visiting defence but chances were few and far between.
Samuel Mayuma’s wayward shot from 25 yards was the first half chance of the second period for Ware, before Drew Richardson returned in kind after good work from Setchell and Lee Watkins in midfield.
Burbage was on hand once again to deny what was probably the best chance of the second forty-five minutes as Watkins was played in one-on-one by Stevens but the Ware stopper once again stood up tall to keep out the Real captain.
It looked like it was not to be Real’s day, but it could have been far worse had Tyler McGregor not been alert in keeping out Clements late on while a big penalty shout was also turned down by the referee in what were nervous closing stages for the home side.
The 1-1 result however sees Real Bedford remain in third in Southern League Central Division One, behind early pace setters Hadley – who beat Berkhamsted 4-1 this afternoon – and Flackwell Heath.
Ware remain in ninth.
Real Bedford are back in league action on Tuesday night as they once again welcome Leighton Town to the Ledger Stadium, looking for a repeat of last weekend’s 4-0 FA Trophy victory.
