Three own goals scored at Wodson Park

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Ware 2 St Albans City 3

ASSISTANT manager Ken Charlery was present to run the rule over a St Albans City second string as they ran out 3-2 winners at Ware on Tuesday evening.

Reserve team boss Franco Sidoli took the side, made up of last season’s reserves and a handful of trialists, and he saw his team race into a fifth minute lead when Jerry Lyons turned Bradley Wilkinson’s cross past his own goalkeeper, the first of three own goals on the night.

New Ware boss Stuart Nethercott got an immediate reaction from his team with Davie Edmee forcing Neil McDaid into an excellent two handed save low down to the ‘keeper’s right.

The home side were level inside 30 minutes though thanks to the second own goal of the contest. A long ball forward from former Saint Jon Stevenson looked easy enough for Sam Lyon to deal with but a mix up between the defender and goalkeeper McDaid saw Lyon head the ball over the ‘keeper and into the empty net despite McDaid’s best attempts.

Ware, who introduced former Colney Heath full-back Mark Teasdale at the break, saw striker Ricci Crace miss a glorious attempt to put the hosts ahead just after the interval but the striker skewed his shot wide of the target with the goal gaping.

In former Chelsea and Brighton midfielder Alexis Nicolas, City had the best player on the park. The Cypriot’s first touch was a class above and it was his gorgeous chip that led to City regaining the lead. The classy midfielder was given time and space on the edge of the Ware area and spotting replacement goalkeeper Obey Murefu off his line attempted to chip the Zimbabwean. Although the ball beat Murefu it came back off the bar only to hit the goalkeeper, bounce off a post and slip into the net via another touch from Murefu.

With just 25 minutes remaining City extended their lead when a flowing move started by Jake Panayiotou ended with Rob Quattromini crossing for trialist Jason Nicolau to slot home.

The final score of the night went the way of the hosts when Marcus Sammons beat Mark Campbell to the ball to head Mike Elliott’s cross past substitute ‘keeper Aiden Kelly late on.

Ware: Coleman; Bostock, Lyons, Malimabue, Stevenson, Bastian, Edmee, Johnson, Russell, Crace, Kayembe.

City: McDaid, Close, Cutchley, Lyon, Panayiotou, Kidd, D Quattromini, Attfield, Nicolas, Wilkinson.

Subs used: Fiori, R Quattromini, Kelly, Campbell, Nicolau,

Referee: G. Evetts