It was a dismal Halloween afternoon for the Ducks as they were beaten by three goals to nil by Ware FC, a team below us in the league prior to the game. Not enough character was shown by the team beyond the opening stages of the game and ultimately Ware played like they wanted it more and put up a better fight than Aylesbury United to crawl higher up the league table.

Right out of the gates, Aylesbury tried to get an attacking foothold in this game and did well to build some early pressure. Wil Turner had a great run down the right-hand side, twisting and turning through the Ware defenders to arrive in the final third, before the tricky winger went one on one with Ware keeper Fred Burbidge; Wil got his shot away, but it struck Fred Burbidge, before the ball went up and over the man between the sticks, but Wil could not get there in time for a rebounded shot and Burbidge recovered it to avoid an early goal.

Ware responded well and were beginning to see more of the ball and be more threatening, they also had a man with a long throw which was flicked on well when executed but could not find the final ball before the 14th minute when the game changed.

The host's response rewarded them with an early lead, a long throw into the penalty area was flicked on twice by home players, before falling to Anthony Wordsworth who fired it past Hopwood. 1 - 0

The hosts took a grip on the game and kept control of the ball as Aylesbury heads began to drop. They had a corner whipped in which found a man at the far post, but Hopwood was able to save his shot. Aylesbury United went up the other end and were able to win a corner. Similar to Ware's chance, Chase Matthew was able to leap and get his head on the ball but it hit the near post allowing for Jake Bewley to have an attempt on goal from a tough angle on the rebound but it collided with the Ware defender, then off Jake to award the hosts a goal kick.

10 minutes to go before the break, and Ike Okwusogu and Aaron Onginjo both had good chances to equalise. Ike was played through on goal from a perfectly weighted pass, but his shot hit the keeper again, the ball rebounded to Aaron in a good position but his shot was fired over the bar.

Ware doubled their lead on 41 minutes. A move down the left saw Samuel Mayuma pull the ball back to the edge of the penalty area where Rechan Esprit dummied the ball, allowing it to run into the path of Wordsworth joining unmarked from deep to score his second of the afternoon from 15 yards. 2 - 0

A change was then made as Pooya Karimi entered the match in replacement of Aaron Onginjo who looked to be nursing a minor injury after a collision a few minutes previously, when he had to spend a short spell on the sideline after looking to be in some discomfort before the second goal.

Aylesbury had to come up with a better gameplan in the second half to avoid an embarrassing scoreline, they had been second to most challenges and misplaced several passes, with chances few and far between; heads were beginning to drop as the opposition were not playing like a team who were below us in the table at all.

It seemed as though whatever was said at half-time in the home dressing room worked more effectively than the away, the hosts came out firing as they had a free kick at the edge of the box that was played low across goal and found a man at the far post but Hopwood was there to stop it.

Finlay Reeves then had a good chance at the other end from close range after doing well to keep it alive and work it into the box - the keeper parried it out of play for a corner, this corner ball was punched away by Burbidge at the first time of asking.

Aylesbury were beginning to see more of the ball as Bakary Daffeh had a shot from range after being played in by Turner, Burbidge stopped it and struck it downfield to play the opposition striker in, but he was closed down by our defence.

Any change of a comeback was extinguished by the home side as they scored a third on 57 minutes. Theo Ofori scored a goal from 8 yards with little resistance from the Aylesbury defence putting three important points firmly in the home side's hands with at least 30 minutes to play. 3 - 0

Rocko Tamplin was subbed on for Turner on 65 minutes to give a new look to the Aylesbury attacking contingent. We were awarded a free kick in a good position 10 minutes later, about ten yards from the edge of the box - Turner and Okwusogu stood over it, But Turner’s shot was lacking power and was easily claimed by Burbidge.

More chances were coming the Ducks’ way as Ware took their foot off the accelerator after going three goals up, Reeves had a shot at the keeper that was put over and behind for a corner, the corner was whipped in and met the head of Frankie Bircham who could not get the header goalwards after being under pressure from the Ware defence.

Following this renewed attack, Sam Bajaha replaced Sonny French on 78 minutes. Tamplin then had a great run from around the halfway line and was able to beat 3 defenders and get his shot away, but Burbidge was able to save once again. A final change was then made as Okwusogu, who showed fight and character throughout the game and much more so than his peers, was replaced by Aaron Gray in the 89th minute. The final chance fell to Reeves, who had a great chance for a consolation goal, but the Burbidge continued his fine afternoon, making another great save.

So, the final score was 3 - 0 to the hosts. A disappointing afternoon on all counts, the chances that the Ducks got were not taken well enough or saved by Burbidge, and in some parts of the game, we were truly dominated by Ware FC. Aylesbury United now sit 21st in the table with a lot of work to do to revive this young season.