BALSALL & BERKSWELL 1-3 CENTRAL AJAX: THE INDEPENDENT, HONEST, LIGHTHEARTED MATCH REPORT...

 Ajax Clean Up Points, As Hornets Lose Sting

Balsall & Berkswell 1-3 Central Ajax

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

So one referee’s assistant didn’t show, meaning a representative from each club would have to ‘run a line’… Never a good idea. Certainly when important decisions need taking, the substitute linespersons’ often emotional flag-waves, or indeed lack of them, suggest that the main official should ignore all but the opinions about throw-ins. This happens in leagues elsewhere in the country which have to exist with only one official…

However, the Balsall lino was injured during the opening period following an incident involving a drinks cup and a knee, so that he had to be replaced by another home substitute. I’ll bet he was pleased to get out of the elements… 

COMMUNICATING WITH AN OFFICIAL IS A POINTLESS EXERCISE...

After the break, the Ajax flag-bearer also bore a hot drink for a while into the second period. He did flag for an offside against Hornet Dan Povey although the striker’s header was tipped to safety by Ajax goalie Alex Gretton anyway. However, the hosts claimed a goal when they felt that skipper Harry Finch (a distant relative of Chaff, Green, Haw and Gold, perhaps) had nodded the ball downwards and across the goal-line before Harry Edgington-Furlong’s splendid clearance. Neither the referee nearby, nor I could tell and the video evidence is inconclusive…

However, the referee did cause some real discomfort for those watching. An early booking for combative home midfielder Ben Cranage for a trip was followed by, er, no other cautions, despite four rather risky challenges by Ajax substitute Nick Dyde after the interval, one of which looked certain to be yellow-carded. It wasn’t.

THE COIN TOSS BY FATHERS & FINCH, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A FIRM OF SOLICITORS...

The main contentious incident though was when a free-kick was awarded to Ajax some 20 yards from goal when the score was 0-1. Playmaker Lewis Fathers was to take a shot at goal but as soon as the free-kick had been awarded, home ‘keeper George Gane clearly bellowed to the referee that he expected the kick to be taken when the official’s whistle was blown. The ref apparently concurred with this ‘request’, although I wasn’t close enough to see or hear the referee’s response. 

SOMEONE NEEDS THE BATHROOM...

As Balsall began to move 10 yards from the ball and form a wall it appeared that Fathers asked the official if he could take the free-kick quickly and his request was agreed to. Thus, even though no home player presumably suspected that permission had been given, Fathers curled a smart shot into the right corner of the net. Cue anger, especially from ‘keeper Gane… 

Cue frustration from me too, for the camera wasn’t rolling and I was unable therefore to capture Fathers’ effort. Forgive me, Fathers for I have failed…

Inconsistency. Yet again.

Shaye Eden…

The wide-player from Ajax was lively and much of Central’s threat came from him. Early in the game he shot too high following a weak Balsall clearance, then he scored, after a loss of concentration by the home defence allowed the most creative player on show, Matt Green, to shovel a pass to the unmarked Eden on the left side of the penalty-box, 12 yards out. Gane advanced but Eden was cool enough to plant his shot into the right corner of goal.

CELEBRATING IN THE GARDEN WITH EDEN...

Another Eden effort flew well off target before the recess then afterwards, as the wind became more chilly, he attacked the left byeline and forced Gane to shovel his low shot out for a corner. He also shot straight at the gloveman and in the latter stages curled a shot off target after substitute David Jones had lost control of the ball as he raced into the 18 yard box.

"SORRY REF. NO BOOKING? CHEERS MATE..."

Subsequently though it was Eden who claimed the victory for his team when he was put clear through the middle by one of Green’s astute assists, veered left past the advancing Gane and converted from near the left upright. 

Eden set up the supporting Green for a first period shot too but the effort from 20 yards drifted by the goal-frame.

Kyle Nicholls…

The Ajax 11 was often the one to make rushes and search out central striker George Stevens’s runs but Nicholls nearly scored in the first-half, nudging a shot from a left-flank delivery off a defender to win a corner on the right.

"I'M NUMBER 4..." 
"NO, I'M NUMBER 4..."

Nicholls was a good foil for Green and both looked to pass the ball whenever possible. In fact, the visitors kept possession for several periods, even getting into slight tangles a couple of times as the Hornets pressed hard.

AJAX MARKING...

Replacement Jones was foiled by the advancing Gane late on then shot wide at the right stick when Edgington-Furlong’s cross found him unmarked.

The home offense…

On a tough day for the Hornets’ attackers, Povey was offered scant service in truth but he managed the one header mentioned above and also a low second period shot which was pushed aside to his right by Gretton, who also denied Ginn from the rebound, using his legs.

EDEN & BLOOMER...

A piledriver by rangy right-sided attacker Dan Biddle struck the other very effective Ajax midfielder Aidan Foley who impressed for much of the encounter. Biddle also drove a shot across the face of goal in that opening 45.

NO CAUTION FOR DYDE...

Gretton’s only first-half save was a low one from Luke Hatfield but the goalie fell on the loose ball to deny the lurking Povey. After the break, home defender Lewis Proctor lifted a decent chance too high but the quick-footed Solomon Bloomer missed the best opportunity when he miscued Povey’s assist wide at the right post.

George Ginn… 

He played a decent match for the hosts and indeed scored a magnificent goal… Luckily I was able to capture it on video, for he simply fired a shot from 13 yards inside the Ajax half and the ball flew, probably affected by the gusty wind then dropped into the top left corner of the net. It stunned Gretton, players and watchers alike. One to remember…

BURGESS HEADS CLEAR...

Final words…

There were some strong individuals on the pitch apart from those mentioned above, for both visiting central defenders Tom Dyke and Lewis (‘Last Stand’) Kuster were confident and well supported by their full-backs. Proctor, not a gamble and the leading Hornet Finch were largely proficient for the hosts in the Berkswell rearguard too. Bloomer sparkled a few times but he will no doubt rue his miss and the full-back pairing of Rhys Davies and Aaron Arnold offered support to the attack whenever possible. 

POVEY LOOKS ASTONISHED THAT CRANAGE (8) HAS BEEN BOOKED...

Ajax looked the more efficient group however, in midfield especially and of course they fielded the most dangerous forward, Eden…

TEAMS:

BALSALL & BERKSWELL:

GEORGE GANE, RHYS DAVIES, AARON ARNOLD, GEORGE GINN, HARRY FINCH (CAPT), LEWIS PROCTOR, DAN BIDDLE, BEN CRANAGE, DAN POVEY, SOLOMON BLOOMER, LUKE HATFIELD.

SUBS:

LEO KINSELLA, RYAN CRANAGE, CONNOR SMITH, LEON EDMOND.

CENTRAL AJAX:

ALEX GRETTON, JOE BURGESS, HARRY EDGINGTON-FURLONG, AIDAN FOLEY, LEWIS KUSTER, TOM DYKE, SHAYE EDEN, MATT GREEN, GEORGE STEVENS, LEWIS FATHERS (CAPT), KYLE NICHOLLS.

SUBS:

NICK DYDE, KALLAN GILL, DAVID JONES, JOSH PITTERS, RICH LAYTON.