Ware....................................3

Leyton Pennant....................2

(AXA FA Cup First Qualifying Round)

PENNANT suffered a shock early exit from the AXA FA Cup with a defeat at the hands of a Ware team two divisions below them.

The visitors made two changes to their starting line-up, bringing in the fit again Che Stadhart for Billy Cove and Stuart McLean for the suspended John Kent.

After the hosts had soaked up the early pressure they took the lead when Pennant's inexperienced midfielder Mitchell Evans panicked in the box and shoved Callcut in the back. Shanley duly despatched the resulting penalty.

Pennant began to raise their game nearer half-time and Evans had one shot blocked and one well saved by Patching in the Ware goal before Paul Salmon tried his luck with an aerial scissor-kick which was inches too high.

Salmon did have more joy a minute after the break when he lept like his namesake fish to nod in a Billy Read corner to level the scores.

Just three minutes later Ware restored their lead when Shanley crossed for Patmore to blast home from close range.

A frantic spell was completed on the hour when Pennant equalised for a second time when substitute Cove hit a stunning left-foot volley from a narrow angle past Patching.

As Pennant pressed for the winner, Nelson was replaced by John Lowe in a bid to seize the initiative. The visitors almost went ahead when Baffour finished a fine run with a shot that was well tipped over by Patching.

Gravette, of Ware, was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after a malicious lunge at Evans which caught him on the thigh.

With 15 minutes remaining on the clock, a long throw by Burns was only half cleared and Callcut gleefully headed the winner into the net for Ware.

Cove almost grabbed a share of the spoils late on but he hooked his effort just wide.

Pennant faced a daunting trip to Braintree for a league fixture last night as Guardian and Gazette Sport went to press.

Leyton Pennant: Wells, Baffour, Hercules, Evans, Silk, Salmon, McLean (sub: Quinn), Nelson (sub: Lowe), Stadhart, Riley (sub: Cove), Read.

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