STOURBRIDGE STANDARD v CENTRAL AJAX: THE MOWDOG'S PREVIEW...

 Stourbridge Standard v Central Ajax: 

The Mowdog's Preview...

This Birmingham Saturday Vase tie between Standard of the West Midlands Regional League Division 2 and Ajax from the Midland League Division 3 should be a decent encounter on the artificial Dudley College pitch.

I have visited the venue once before to see Team Dudley v Worcester Raiders in 2017, which was an experience...

Standard currently lie 5th of 13 teams in their league standings with 4 wins and 2 losses from their 6 matches so far. However, they have scored 32 goals, whilst conceding only 7, meaning they have netted an average of more than 5 goals per outing in gaining 12 points.

Ajax top their league table with an impressive 8 wins and 2 draws from their 10 games, amassing a goal-difference of +27 and collecting 26 points. Their goals per game average is 3.4 and they, like Standard, have only conceded 7 times.

Standard's season so far...  

A 1-2 home loss to Pelsall Villa Colts, whose winner arrived in the 85th minute, was a disappointing opening result but skipper Callum Swain notched the Stourbridge goal. Next was a road trip to AFC Bentley, who were beaten 0-4, courtesy of strikes by Swain, who was voted the team's MVP by their opponents, Charlie Van Veen, Jesse Kuzivakwashe Nyakudya and an 89th minute goal by substitute Farid Mikidam.

CALLUM SWAIN...

A 3-0 win v Kidderminster Harriers Reserves saw Elliot Farley, Finn Monahan and Kamren Smith on the scoresheet, whilst replacement Cole Wells was chosen as the MVP. Harriers' Reuben Evans was dismissed during the match, too...

A close 4-3 defeat at Bewdley Town Reserves followed, where MVP Smith, Swain and substitute Van Veen grabbed Standard's goals, although the next match, at Edgbaston Spartans was postponed.

ELLIOT FARLEY...

That remarkable goal-difference of +25 was achieved largely due to the team's games v FC Premier 2008 and PS Olympic, who were trounced 12-1 and 9-0 at Dudley College. Against Premier, MVP Mikidam smacked in half of the 12 goals, Smith netted a hat-trick, whilst skipper Farley and replacements Swain and Moussa Koita scored once each.

FARID MIKIDAM...

Olympic suffered their 9-0 loss as a result of Fin Holmes' hat-trick and goals by MVP Mikidam, Smith, Van Veen and three goals in the final 3 minutes by substitutes Charlie Taylor, Wells and Swain.

CHARLIE VAN VEEN...

 Central Ajax's start to the season...

Birmingham Tigers were beaten 5-0 in the opening league game, in which the goals were scored by Joe Burgess, Shaye Eden, Matt Green and a brace by Adam Taylor. Dan Holt was voted as the team's MVP by the Tigers... Another 5-0 home success followed, this time v Continental Star, with Eden, Holt, Jared Randell and another brace by Taylor doing the damage. Lewis Fathers took the MVP honour...

SHAYE EDEN...

In a tough 2-2 draw at Coventrians, Holt and MVP Taylor grabbed the goals for Ajax, before the crew returned to winning ways with a 3-0 home victory over newcomers Coventry Dunlop. Eden scored twice and substitute Jordan Lewis scored the other, whilst Tom Dyke was awarded the MVP accolade.

DAN HOLT...

In a crazy 4-6 win at Castle Vale Town, MVP Eden scored a brace, as did Lewis and Taylor but the latter was also dismissed after accumulating two yellow cards. In that match, Vale's Jordan McKenzie netted all four of his club's goals...

A close 1-0 win v Solihull Sporting was achieved with a goal by replacement Matt Layton, whilst Will Jeffries won the MVP award.

ADAM TAYLOR...

Eden, Lewis (2) and Jeffries scored in a 0-4 romp at DSC United, with Holt being voted the MVP and then came two matches against newcomers Wake Green Amateurs, a local team to where I live. The first encounter ended 0-0 at Ajax Park, in which Jack Keeling was chosen as the team's MVP but in Shirley, the reverse fixture saw Ajax win 1-5, with Eden scoring twice and MVP Taylor netting once, as did substitutes Green and George Stevens. 

JORDAN LEWIS...

Last Saturday, Ajax had a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Leamington Hibs, the goals being scored by Lewis Kuster, Holt and Randall. Dyke was voted the team's MVP by the Hibs contingent.  

Full coverage of the tie will be at themowdog.blogspot.com from Sunday morning. There will be video highlights with full commentary, screenshots, images and a match report...

The Mowdog...