CENTRAL AJAX 2-2 KNOWLE FC: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT REPORT + SCREENSHOTS...

 Competitive Ajax Jar Robins’ Title Hopes…

Central Ajax 2-2 Knowle FC

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

In truth, Knowle needed a win at Ajax to remain in contention at the top of Midland League 2, for the lurking Redditch Borough have played a number of matches fewer than the Robins and look a decent bet for the title at this present time.

However, Central Ajax began this game explosively and took a very early, if rather fortunate lead with the aid of a deflection but gradually, on a pitch which was only passed fit for use at around 2.45pm following a heavy downpour of rain in the Warwick area, the Robins clawed their way back into the contest.

An equaliser was awarded to Knowle when the ball was deemed to have crossed the Ajax goal-line before Harvey Fereday hacked it clear and then, despite two other unheeded appeals, the guests were awarded a penalty just prior to the recess, which was saved by Ajax goalie Nathan Taylor.

An early second period goal on the break by the lively Adam Taylor for the hosts was finally cancelled out by Seeleyco FC’s, sorry, Knowle FC’s George Seeley but although more than twenty minutes remained, the visitors failed to score again and in fact, had it not been for a diving header from his own goal-line by Robins’ Joe Riddiford, Ajax might have snatched a late, if undeserved winner.  

The pitch…

Standing water was allowed to settle by the officials and the match was rescheduled for a 3.15pm start but certainly the surface was, er, soft in many places. The team sheets weren’t completed until around 2.50pm and so it was all a bit of a rush in the end.

The officials had a tough job on, for they were harangued regularly from the touchlines and the assistant on my side of the pitch had quickly dug quite a ditch by his constant jogs along the sideline. Indeed, he asked me to step further away from my filming position so that he could find a better route but I wondered whether that would affect his judgement about balls crossing the white line… Ah, well, what do I know?

Noticeable too was that the referee was perhaps not advised by his assistants too often, although of course, that might be par for the course these days. Again, what do I know? 

Knowle’s opening half struggles… 

The opening Ajax goal which stemmed from Lewis Kuster’s long left-side throw was scored by Kuster himself, for his chuck was headed back towards him from the near post by Knowle skipper Lewis Clarke. Kuster then delivered a right-booted centre which looped up a little higher off the bobbing Robin Nathan Corry and dropped agonisingly over the desperately flailing ‘keeper Bobbie Biddle into the net. 

KUSTER'S DEFLECTED DELIVERY HAS DROPPED INTO THE KNOWLE NET...

A period of untidy play followed but Knowle just couldn’t seem to take control as Ajax’s resolve became firmer. Visiting forwards Corry, Odane Barnes and Jack Mullen just couldn’t get the better of home skipper Tom Dyke, full-backs Harry Edgington-Furlong, who played a strong game and Steve Ruck, plus of course Kuster.

However, a corner was finally won on the left-flank by Knowle and Bennett curled it towards the 6-yard box where Nathan Taylor made an attempt to deal with it in traffic but Clarke got there first and his lunging header bounced goalwards, from whence Fereday pumped the ball clear. Immediately the referee and his mud-tramping assistant signalled a goal, which at the time I was slightly surprised by… 

FEREDAY CLEARS BUT THE BALL WAS ADJUDGED TO HAVE CROSSED THE GOAL-LINE BY TWO OFFICIALS...

As I have already written however, what do I know? 

Few other chances were created before half-time by the two battling outfits, although a fine run at inside-left by Adam Taylor for Ajax was thwarted by Biddle’s parry at the near post on the byeline and a low Shaye Eden drive was held by the Knowle gloveman.

Knowle were offered a chance to take the lead before the break though when Owain Taylor’s rush into the 18 yard box ended with a trip by Edgington-Furlong but when Bennett fired his spot-kick towards the left side of goal, Nathan Taylor leapt right to make a fine save. Bennett’s ensuing corner was tipped over his crossbeam by the goalminder too…

ABOVE, THE PENALTY SAVE & BELOW, THE TIP-OVER...

After the interval…

Knowle certainly forced the play but despite using replacements Jay Rendell and club skipper George Seeley as attackers, the frustration continued. Their plight was exacerbated by another Ajax goal, scored when Edgington-Furlong’s long clearance found Adam Taylor escaping on the left-flank. He was confident enough to fake a move right as Biddle advanced but he veered left and was able to convert from a narrow angle.

ADAM TAYLOR CONVERTS FOR 2-1...

Soon Barnes slid in as Kuster and Nathan Taylor hesitated slightly but Ajax survived, then Rendell moved into a decent position at inside-left but his 14 yard shot was splendidly saved by Nathan Taylor’s outstretched right boot, although the occasional Knowle pressure would eventually be rewarded.

NATHAN TAYLOR SAVES SMARTLY FROM RENDELL...

Barnes got away from Kuster at inside-left using his strength, but his unselfish pass right towards Corry was intercepted by Dyke. However, Barnes steadied himself on the awkward surface, regained possession and poked a pass towards Corry again, who was forced to collect the ball beyond the far stick. Corry was thus able to slip a pass back for Seeley to convert neatly from the right corner of the 6 yard box with his left foot.   

SEELEY REGAINS PARITY AT 2-2...

Nathan Taylor spilled a Seeley free-kick from way downtown but managed to recover the ball with a plunge as Clarke and Knowle substitute Georgie Manning lurked, although Ajax team-mate Ed Caswell stood his ground too.

Callum Burston-Keeley, a lively late replacement for the Robins curled a left-wing free-kick inches past the far angle of horizontal and vertical but really, that was all the visitors could muster, despite owning the majority of the scrappy play.

As time ran out though, a clever one-two on the left between home substitute Ryan Palmer and Ruck saw Palmer open with only the scrambling Biddle to beat but his low close range effort was brilliantly headed from the goal-line by the very capable Riddiford, who dived to his left and subsequently preserved his team’s one point… 

SUPERB GOAL-LINE CLEARANCE BY RIDDIFORD...

The final words…

I guess this was a hard earned point for Ajax, whilst Knowle would feel that a tricky surface, a deflected goal against, a missed penalty, two other claims for spot-kicks being waived and a goal conceded on the break all added up to a bad day on the pitch. However, the Robins really weren’t able to create much in the way of opportunities on the day and if Palmer’s last gasp chance had been taken, a defeat would have been even more sickening to bear.

Mullan and Bennett were often creative for the guests but in actuality, the forwards were unable to dominate Dyke and company in the Ajax rearguard. Nathan Taylor made two essential saves too, which prevented Knowle from taking three points, despite perhaps being below par on the day.

Jack Keeling, Fereday and Freddy Murphy were tireless in the midfield workhouse for Ajax, whilst Aidan Foley deserves a special mention. The guy’s constant grit and energy cause him to be pulled up for fouls on occasions but his commitment on the field is commendable and despite dishing out some stick of his own, he seems not to respond when retribution comes his way… 

I was welcomed kindly yet again at Central Ajax, which I thank the club for and it was good to see some friends from Knowle too…

I enjoyed watching and filming the tussle, although it would turn out to be a devastating result for the visitors…