BRETFORTON OB 1-3 CENTRAL AJAX: THE MATCH REPORT...

When The Mowdog Missed The Floater…

Bretforton OB 1-3 Central Ajax

And so Ajax netted their third goal with a fine shot by the number 3 but I hadn’t sussed that Aaron Satchwell had been replaced on the far flank by Joe Taylor and so I commented that Satchwell had scored a really good goal… Oops… I was forced to record over the commentary on that clip whilst at home. Immediately after Taylor had scored, I took a quick photo and to my shock, as Bretforton restarted the game I saw Harry Quirke boot a huge arc of a shot from inside his own half and before I could begin to film, the ball soared quickly and high and I thought that it must drop into goalie Chris Rowberry’s mittens, or over the goal-frame… It didn’t. It fell over Rowberry and into the net, as I stood agog, too slow to record the incident. Bigger OOPS… Sorry, ‘Arry… Tell you what, if I pop down next Tuesday to the FC Stratford game, I’ll interview you on film beforehand. Deal?

WHAT HAPPENED...
(KINDA...)

My first visit to Bretforton’s home was decent, for the pitch was flatter than the majority I get to see and the facilities were smart and welcoming. Ajax are ranked higher than the Brets and naturally they passed the ball about comfortably until too many replacements later in the game affected any rhythm, which is what pre-season is all about. Jack Keeling and Jared Randall were the anchors in midfield and despite a strong showing by home skipper Quirke, the Ajax pair dominated much of the play. The home forwards, Tom Dixon and Mani Singh were given few opportunities to threaten but Singh lifted a good chance over Rowberry and also the crossbar late in the proceedings, from a Dixon assist.

REF: "LOOK AT MY SANITISED HAND!"

WELL, MARCIAN SCARED ME, ANYWAY...

Dixon looked sharp on occasions and one skilful dribble during the second period was impressive. His one chance was blotted out by two blocking defenders early in the match, following a low centre by JD Cole. Singh also drifted an early effort off target and he, along with Quirke (twice) smacked free-kicks too high from downtown, during a ten minute period after the break. In fact, Rowberry was barely ruffled, although he flicked on one late corner by Singh and was grateful to Taylor (I think) for heading a similar flag-kick away from the goal-line as the game ebbed. 

SOMEONE REPLACED THE REF WITH A MENSWEAR MANNEQUIN...

HARRY CHECKS OUT A POSSIBLE 300 METRE SHOT...
(BUT DOESN'T TELL ME...)

Brets’ manager Steve Edgehill was solid for much of the game and defended stoutly but he will rue his unfortunate role in the second Ajax goal. Already behind to a far post header by Randall, who had escaped Marcian Bor’s scary attention when Keeling’s left-side corner was well flighted, Keeling took a free-kick at inside-left and as the ball curled towards the far stick, Edgehill jumped and his glanced header lifted the ball over ‘keeper Callum Marshall’s leap and high into goal.

Marshall had already kept out a Keeling shot and the corner from which Randall had scored had been conceded when the gloveman tipped a decent 25 yarder by central striker Lewis over the crossbeam. The main trouble to the home defence was clearly Reece Homer however, whose light-footed rushes, anticipation and confidence belied a younger guy. He forced a catch from Marshall, had another attempt deflected off target and late in the opening half was assisted well by Manny Atugo but although Homer’s odyssey saw him lift the ball past the advancing goalie, his effort bounced wide of the left vertical. 

DRINKS BREAK...

KEELING PREPARES TO TAKE THE FREE-KICK WHICH CAUSED AN OWN-GOAL...

After the players retired to sanitise their hands, down a pint and don their masks for a chat in the clubhouse, they returned with the first of the replacements on the pitch and although those three free-kicks by the Brets were worthy attempts at goal, really only Singh’s later miss and Quirke’s quirky goal from 378 metres away (OK, maybe closer), the goal chances usually fell to Ajax. Homer set up Jordan Lewis for a measured shot onto the left post, then Lewis’ replacement Danny Chinn could do no more than skew the ball into Marshall’s arms, before the striker, wearing tomato soup boots, struck the Brets’ defensive wall with a free-kick and thumped the rebound against the outside of the left upright.

DIXON PREPARES TO KICK OFF HALF TWO...

THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T CAPTURE HIS GOAL HAS BROUGHT HARRY TO HIS KNEES...

That was the third time Ajax had tested the goal-frame, for Keeling had clipped the crossbar from Homer’s short centre in the build-up to goal three. Calum Thomas retrieved the ball and Taylor burst into the 18 yard box to pummel a left-footer off the diving Marshall’s gloves high into the net. Chris Bann was unable to convert twice from close range during the latter exchanges, Taylor drove too high and finally a three-on-one break led by Dale Francis at inside-left, should have brought a fourth goal. Francis though shot not very well and well wide of the target as his colleagues supported in vain.

DRINKS BREAK...

RAINBOW BOOTS ON SHOW...

Thanks to both managers for patiently providing me with lists of players and numbers, which proved invaluable and once again, apologies to Quirkey…  

JUST AFTER HARRY SCORED.
DID HE REALLY LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN HE TOOK THE SHOT?

THE END, IN POOR LIGHT...

Squads:

Bretforton:

Callum Marshall, Max Tarry, Carl Hathaway, Ben Herborn, Marcian Bor, Steve Edgehill, Aidan Booth, Harry Quirke (Capt),  Tom Dixon, Mani Singh, JD Cole, Arsh Singh, Robbie Warner, Jake Edwards, Joe Keyte, Tom Sheppard.  

Central Ajax:

Chris Rowberry, Harry Edgington-Furlong, Aaron Satchwell, Nick Dyde, Keiran Downey, Tom Dyke (Capt), Jared Randall, Jack Keeling, Jordan Lewis, Manny Atugo, Reece Homer, Sam Hood, Chris Bann, Calum Thomas, Harry Jones, Dale Francis, Joe Taylor, Harry McKay, Danny Chinn.