Ajax Hold On To Secure The Necessary Three Points…
Leamington Hibs 2-3 Central Ajax
The Mowdog’s thoughts…
It was simple for Ajax: they had to win at Hibs to keep some pressure upon AFC Solihull and Coventrians at the summit of their league, whilst using every available player, to make sure they have reasonably fit individuals ready for the clash v AFC Solihull on Monday, a cup-final v AFC Coventry Rangers on Wednesday and their final league game v DSC United next Saturday…
They found Hibs typically stubborn opponents however, despite goalie Sean Wilson only making one real save in the 90 minutes. Indeed, Wilson conceded only a bizarre own-goal by Tom Dyke, then a penalty strike in the closing seconds, which sums up Hibs’ difficulties in creating much on offense…
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| BLOODY HELL, ZACH, WHAT A TIME TO NEED A PEE... |
An even first half-hour was cruelly interrupted by the fellow at Ajax’s helm, Matt Green, who fired in a 19 yard free-kick, then assisted the rapid and usually impressive Adam Taylor to net goal two with an outrageous, 50 yard outside-of-the-right-boot pass. The frustration on the face and in the actions of commendable home skipper Zach Featherstone were clear, for the two goals were poorly conceded.
At 0-2, Ajax were just about cruising along during the second period, containing a number of substitutions, until Dyke was cautioned, then screwed a crazy own-goal past Wilson and suddenly it was ‘game-on’. However, Ajax netted a third, although for the second time in the match, Hibs were not happy that it was allowed but I’ll come to that later…
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| ADEISRAEL, WEARING GREEN OF COURSE, HOPING FOR SOME SERVICE... |
The penalty for Hibs came too late to affect the outcome but it was clear that the officials played virtually no added time at the ends of the halves, even though it wasn’t an early evening kick-off… Hmm…
The Ajax goals…
The opener arrived following a typical mazy Freddy Murphy rush, which ended with a foul on him, 19 yards from goal on the right edge of the ‘D’. Green needed no invitation to rap a strong, chest-high shot to unsighted goalkeeper Jack Marshall’s left and the guests led 0-1.
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| 0-1 BUT IS THIS A BEATLES CROSSING ABBEY ROAD GOAL CELEBRATION? |
Goal two stemmed from the block of a Ryan McEvoy free-kick at the opposite end by Green’s protecting right arm, just outside his own penalty-box. The referee saw no problem, Green mugged Luke Woolley and ran several yards up the left flank before launching a ridiculous, outside-of-right-boot pass forward. What was wrong with his left boot?
However, the assist was superb, as Taylor and home defender Sam Dunkley, uniquely wearing his shirt inside his shorts (will this catch on?) raced after the ball. A nudge of Taylor’s left shoulder against Dunkley saw him get onto the ball first, Marshall was already stranded at the edge of his 18 yard box and despite such a physical tussle, the carefully judged lob Taylor produced was accuracy itself and the ball dropped neatly into the unguarded goal from way downtown…
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| THE SPEEDY TAYLOR (9) HAS SCORED A FINE GOAL FOR HIS TEAM... |
Goal three was a killer for Hibs but well taken by Ajax replacement Pat Fetherston (interesting spelling of his surname, when compared with Zach’s, of Hibs). There was a breakaway, nearly catching me out and I was suddenly pressing the camera’s ‘Record’ button in panic as Fetherston got clear at inside-right to fire past the advancing Marshall. Hibs complained to the nearby linesperson, maybe about offside but I have no footage to support their claim.
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| FETHERSTON (15) HAS ADDED A THIRD FOR AJAX... |
More offense by Ajax…
Harry Edgington-Furlong volleyed too high early in the match, two more Green free-kicks drifted too high after the interval and he screwed a low shot wide of the left upright, whilst Marshall saved a low Taylor shot. Apart from a near post glancing header by Dyke which flew across the face of goal and despite the pace and guile of Taylor, little danger was otherwise caused to Marshall.
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| KUSTER, JEFFRIES & DYKE WERE STRONG AT THE BACK FOR AJAX... |
Hibs’ attacking moments…
Few, in truth… Liked the rushes of left-sided attacker Kozi Muanza, which kept Ajax’s Lewis Kuster busy and concentrating, although the other forwards, Demi Adeisrael and Toni Nzingu weren’t in the game too often. At least the eventual introduction of the physical Daniel Ademola offered some presence up front.
The industrious Ryan McEvoy shot too high early on but there was otherwise precious little to report from the home offense until Dyke’s own-goal, which I still can’t believe went into the net, even after watching the video clip several times…
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| DYKE IS CAUTIONED... |
He had just been cautioned for a foul on the Hibs’ left-flank and as the low free-kick flew towards him, he aimed a kick at it with his right boot, 8 yards out but the connection merely sent the ball against his standing left boot and that sent it spinning crazily goalwards. Wilson clearly couldn’t believe it and could only watch as the ball rolled inside his left stick…
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| ZACH SEEMS PLEASED THAT DYKE HAS SCORED AN OWN-GOAL... |
The only save by Wilson came very late on from an angled shot on the right, which he did well to get a palm to and the ball flew vertically upwards to create a melee. Neither Ademola, nor the hard-working Jordan Barry could get in a rebound effort but it did appear that visiting substitute Lewis Fathers might have, sending the ball upwards again but towards the top right corner of his own goal, where the in-form Will Jeffries rose to head it clear. However, Kuster was then immediately adjudged to have tripped Barry and Hibs were awarded a spot-kick…
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| SINNER SMITH IS BINNED... |
The subsequent penalty was taken by home defender Sam Smith, earlier cautioned, then sin-binned but his shot was unerring, low and into the bottom left corner of the net, as Wilson fell the other way…
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| SMITH HAS MADE THE SCORE 2-3... |
The final words…
Aiden Foley had been booked for the guests early in the match, although seeing the ball's trajectory after his tough challenge on hosts’ left-back Sam Ajayi, perhaps the tackle was unworthy of a caution. Opinions… I was a long way from the incident but as always, both dugouts screamed their reactions, players acted out their feelings like in a TV soap opera and the official had to stop joking with folks on the field and make a serious decision.
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| FOLEY WOULD BE CAUTIONED BUT AJAYI WAS FINE TO CARRY ON... |
Credit to all of the players for their efforts in this match, although it’s odd that the lively Shane Eden and sidekick Murphy don’t seem to score when my camera is about…
Amusing moment of the day was when Woolley twice miscued the ball upwards in front of me, within a matter of seconds and both times made me smile by bellowing, “Oh, my god…” He was always urging on team-mates though and fair play to him for that.
Finally a word or two about Zach Featherstone, who might have played his final game, at least for a while for Hibs. He has surgery pending but after chatting to him, I can so see him as a manager of a team sooner rather than later, for his enthusiasm, complete immersion in matches and his undoubted ability to gee up players is needed in non-league circles. Good luck, my friend…
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| ZACH THE LAD... |
As always, a lovely welcome was afforded me at the Boggery and the Ajax victory has set up beautifully the aforementioned real humdinger of a game at Ajax, against AFC Solihull on Monday 1st May…
I’ll be there.
I really will…
