FAIRFIELD VILLA 4-2 CENTRAL AJAX: THE MOWDOG'S REPORT + SCREENSHOTS OF THE GOALS...

 Sniper Elwell Derails Ajax…

Fairfield Villa 4-2 Central Ajax

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Strange game this, for Ajax began so strongly that Villa didn’t get over the half-way line during the opening 7 minutes, then they conceded, before battling their way back into contention and managing to draw level. However, they went behind again immediately after scoring, just prior to the interval…

Following the break, Ajax’s lapses, their lax defending and surprising lethargy resulted in home forward Dan Elwell grabbing a quick-fire hat-trick, despite clearly not moving easily due to an injury he was carrying. Grabbed, sniped, sniffed: all words to describe the striker’s finishes, leaving the visitors wondering what the hell had happened. 

Ajax didn’t recover, managing only to extend home goalie Callum Martin with a catch from a Shaye Eden volley and a smart tip-over from a late Toby Nelson header. In truth there were few real saves made by either of the two ‘keepers on show throughout the encounter.

MARTIN SAVES FROM NELSON...

The Ryan Palmer quarter-hour…    

In a bright opening by the guests, tricky Ajax forward Palmer forced a low save at the left post from Martin, then he scored, fastening onto a cross-field pass by Eden and almost stumbling past three or four Villa defenders as he dribbled into the 18 yard box, before firing low past the goalminder.

0-1...

Soon he broke away on the right but shot early, which enabled the advancing Martin to turn the ball aside for a corner. 

Eden, often on the periphery of the proceedings, tried twice to lift the ball over Martin during the opening half but failed both times and as the recess neared, Villa’s resurgence began to offer rewards, urged on by the midfield prowess of Karanveer Purewal and the sleek running of the tall Darren Green. Purewal drove in a couple of efforts from distance but with full-backs Zach Holden and Tom Millard supporting smartly on the flanks, the hosts eventually regained parity. 

DYKE BLOCKS FROM GREEN...

A low drive by Green was stopped on the goal-line by Ajax skipper Tom Dyke but the ball flew towards Villa’s Adam Watson, almost on the byeline, left post area and his nudge across goal was converted from a foot or so by the lingering Ricardo Richards. 

1-1...

Incredibly, almost straight away, Martin raced from goal to kick clear as Palmer threatened but his clearance flew out onto the offensive right and Ajax right-back Dan Holt. The defender clipped a shot from way downtown with the outside of his right boot and the ball almost in slow-motion rose over the ‘keeper as he tried to retreat and bounced gently into the empty net…

HOLT SHOOTS...

...INTO THE OPEN NET FOR 1-2...

The Villa revival…

After the break for biscuits, Vimto and a cheese sandwich, the players returned for the second 45 and it was Villa who took control.

A clearance by Ajax rebounded at them and left the defenders in disarray, allowing Richards to slip a pass inside for Elwell to race onto at inside-right. His low left-footer was accurate into the left corner of the net for 2-2.

2-2...

Visiting goalie Sam Kirby was then forced to advance as Richards capitalised upon slack defending by Ajax and although he blocked the striker’s delicate effort, the ball ran loose for the alert Elwell to smack home with glee for 3-2.

3-2...

In a matter of minutes it was 4-2, when Dyke’s overhead clearance was headed back towards his own goalkeeper by Will Jeffries but Elwell spotted the chance, latched onto the ball and snaffled his third goal from an angle on the right.

4-2...

The final words…

Home skipper Liam Taylor was hugely influential for his team, Watson became more effective as the match wore on but Purewal was often the creative spur for his team. Green caused real problems on the offensive right with his pace and strength, Richards was always a physical threat but Elwell, his goals apart, also contributed some smart flicks and short passes from his deep attacking role.

KIRBY WOULD CATCH THIS SHOT BY CUNNINGHAM-SMITH, WHO WOULD LATER BE CAUTIONED...

Ajax were clearly stunned and shaken by their errors being punished so lethally by Elwell in such a short period of time after the restart and subsequently they were unable to compete well enough for the final half-hour, looking shadows of their first-period selves, despite some lively moments from replacements Nelson and Tom Connell.

All of the decent stuff produced earlier by Andy Yeates and Jack Keeling in the trenches became superfluous, despite the efforts of striker Pat Fetherston and midfielder Ed Caswell.

HOLT WAS BOOKED FOR THIS CHALLENGE ON HOLDEN...

Mistakes often cost points and Ajax’s blunders gifted Villa the victory, although in fairness, the hosts really improved after their shaky opening fifteen minutes…

The afternoon though became the Dan Elwell show…