Matchbeat

A last minute penalty by Hertford's Phil Goss spoiled Ware's Championship party after a pulsating local derby ended all square at Wodson Park. The Blues now require a point from Saturday's home game against Witham to be crowned Ryman League Division Two Champions. Goss's penalty thumped high into the net came after former Hertford man Sam Berry had been adjudged to have handled Ryan Redford's drive inside the box. It capped a remarkable second half which had Ware's biggest crowd of the season enthralled as the teams shared six goals. Chris Ellerbeck headed Glen Alzapedi's side in front 8 minutes after the break. Hertford though struck back on the hour when Anthony Anstead failed to hold Redford's effort leaving Daryl Mitchell to scoop the ball home. That started a period which saw three goals in as many minutes. John Frendo firing Ware back in front before the home fans could catch their breath though a moment of indecision in the Ware box left Goss to sweep home the equaliser. The introduction of Danny Spendlove for a tiring Joe Stevens paid immediate dividends for the home side when his cross was knocked down by Andy Crawford for Frendo to thump home his 13th goal of the season. The Ware fans celebrations were cut short by Goss's last minute effort which completed one of the most memorable local derbies for many years.

Ware: Anstead: Gudgeon: Chadwick: Gritton: Allen: Crawford: Berry: Coughlan: Ellerbeck: Frendo: Stevens (Spendlove): SNU: Rose: Horsey: Martin: Wolf

Hertford: Virgo: A. Roberts (Neilson): Teasdale: Hounslow: Watts: Wade: Ashwood: Goss: Mitchell (Panayiotou): Redford: Roberts: SNU: Leggatt: Sturgeon: Maybury:

Att: 416