Bostik North AFC Sudbury 1 Ware 3 Mid-table Sudbury failed to build on recent victories over Cheshunt and Hertford as their lowly visitors took the points to all but secure a place in the division for another season.
Matters were not helped as Mark Morsley’s side had their plans disrupted in the warm-up when keeper Paul Walker sustained an injury and reserve central defender Milo Grimes had to take over between the posts.
AFC started well with Ollie Peters’ corner being headed goalwards by Joe Whight only for the ball to be hacked off the line. Sudbury then began to fall into Ware’s well-drilled offside trap and the Hertfordshire side started to come back into the game, prompted by former Sudbury man Dave Cowley.
It was Cowley’s free kick from the right-hand touchline which led to the opening goal as the home defence failed to clear his delivery, leaving central defender Louis Bowen to drive the ball into the roof of the net.
Cowley then set up Jordon Watson soon afterwards but he shot straight at Grimes.
Sudbury equalized just before the break when Callum Harrison, a recent signing from Needham Market, weaved his way through a couple of challenges before bending a low drive into the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area, for his second goal in two games.
The beginning of the second period mirrored that of the first with Sudbury on top and they went close through Wright and Billy Holland, with the latter’s effort being clawed away by visiting keeper Harry Voss.
Ware again improved as the half progressed and regained the lead on 68 minutes through Damien Green, another centre-back who was played in by Watson after Grimes initially parried Gareth Madden’s long-range drive.
Substitute Tom Dettmar could have levelled the scores with his first touch only to slice a good chance well wide.
Ware then defended fairly comfortably and made the game safe a minute from normal time as a speculative 30 yarder from Josh Oyibo was fumbled into his own net by the unfortunate Grimes.
Sudbury slip a place to 12th and are six points behind local rivals Bury, who they face in a re-arranged game next Thursday at Ram Meadow.
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