A Kevin Chakaodza strike was enough to give Edgware a vital victory and keep the Wares playoff hopes alive writes Gavin Shaw.

 

Draw specialists Edgware were on route to their 15th stalemate of the season, until Chakaodza won the match with a speculative shot from inside the area on 89 minutes.

 

The goal may have had an element of fortune attached to it, but having gone the previous three league matches scoreless Edgware won’t quarrel over any presents that come their way.

 

Just before the half time whistle the home side came close when Ben Hayden’s shot was cleared off the line by ‘Blues’ keeper Jake Wincup, moments later Greg Ngoyi tried an acrobatic volley that saw the ball sail over the bar.

 

Arlesey offered little up front with their front runners kept in check by an ably marshaled defense led by Rory Smith.

 

The performance was an improvement on last weekend’s five goal drubbing at Redbridge, though still somewhere short of the form the Wares showed earlier in the campaign.

 

The match finished controversially as referee Robert Mackay showed Arseley’s Owen Beale a red card for retaliation following a tackle by substitute Richard Morton then, after consulting with his assistant, bizarrely changed his mind and showed the red to Morton with Beale allowed to stay on the pitch.

 

After the wares took the lead the referee played a further 10 minutes before blowing up to end the match.

 

Edgware remain 5^th, with Redbridge hot on their heels, after another impressive win this time at Enfield Town.

 

The Wares travel to Essex to take on Brentwood who still harbor playoff aspirations next Saturday.

 

EDGWARE TOWN: R Blackburne, Brady, Valenti, Smith, Hayden(Ingham), Rispoli, Marks(Morton), Moore, Wallace, Ngoyi(Chakaodza), Maharajan.

 

OTHER SUBS: Killick, Taylor.