​Central Ajax were looking for a result yesterday to build on their encouraging 2-2 draw against Northfield Town a few weeks back. This was the club’s first home game of the season, and they are playing at the Home Guard club in Stratford Upon Avon while their clubhouse and changing rooms at Ajax Park are being developed.

There also in the quarter finals of the Les James Challenge cup for the second consecutive season and have a match lined up with defending champions Knowle at the Robins Nest.

AFC Solihull have started life in division two well following promotion from division three last season where they won the league and lost only four matches from 32 games. The visitors have played well in step seven so far and were comfortably in mid table going into this match with 11 points from nine matches to sit in 9th place.

They notably beat Hampton away from home earlier in the season which is a tough place to go.  

The facilities at the Home Guard club are good for the level and the clubhouse looked inviting and presentable. The pitch looked in good condition and the ground is well worth a visit while Central Ajax are there over the next eight weeks. Supporters can get the number 15 bus from Stratford Upon Avon and get off at the Dark Lane stop where it’s only a short walk to the ground.

The programme available was brilliant and included a history of both clubs. It was well put together and informative for supporters with an interest in division two football.

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Central Ajax included Sam Kirby starting in goal and Tom Dyke captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Ross Barnett playing up front and being supported by Shaye Eden and Ryan Palmer on the wings.

There were three changes from the team that drew with Northfield Town a fortnight ago with Aidan Foley coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Jack Keeling.

AFC Solihull’s starting line-up featured Shaune Allen starting in goal and Adrian Cooney captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Che O’Connor playing up front and being supported by Cherno Sey and Lewis Corkery down the wings.

There were four changes from the team that started against Coventry Alvis a few weeks ago with Abdo Said coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Dylan Daniels. 

First Half

The match got off to a lively start with both teams committing players forward in search of the opening goal. There was a good chance for AFC Solihull when MD Shimul found space in the box before firing wide in the 3rd minute.

Central Ajax took the lead inside the opening ten minutes thanks to a well worked free kick into the box. A brilliant delivery found Ed Caswell at the back post who headed the ball into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.
Set pieces were a real strength for the hosts yesterday and the opening goal showcased that.

​AFC Solihull responded to the set back well and stuck to their attacking philosophy. The visitors were looking to build up the play and work balls into the box in search of the equaliser. MD Shimul was passing the ball around well and looked an attacking threat from attacking midfield.

Abdo Said made a good run into the box and had a deflected effort go into the top left corner to make it 1-1 in the 19th minute.

It was an even opening twenty minutes with both teams having good spells in front of goal and there was not much separating the two sides throughout the first half.

Dylan Daniels had a shot from the edge of the box that went narrowly wide of the right-hand post for AFC Solihull near the half hour mark.

Central Ajax made it 2-1 thanks to a good run into the box by Ross Barnett who finished well into the bottom right corner. It was a clinical finish from the striker who took his chance well to give the hosts the lead.  

Following the goal, the hosts changed to a back three and were playing in a 3-4-3 formation with Steve Ruck, Lewis Kuster and Tom Dyke playing in central defence. AFC Solihull were building some momentum up front and the change was made to nullify some of the attacking threat from the visitors.

Abdo Said got into the box and was fouled for a penalty near the end of the first half. He stepped up and took a composed penalty into the bottom left corner to make it 2-2.

There was a good chance for Central Ajax to retake the lead in the closing stages of the first half when Ross Barnett was free in the box following a free kick. He couldn’t quite get it on target, but it was a good move by the hosts.

Second Half

The second half was a bit cagier than the first in terms of chances in front of goal. Both sides were working hard off the ball and doing well to stop promising attacks in the final third.

Tom Dyke impressed for Central Ajax in this match. He was doing well to clear the danger and made some crucial blocks in the box.

Adrian Cooney was also playing well at the back for AFC Solihull. He was organising the defence and reading the game well to cut out dangerous attacks from Central Ajax.

There was an early chance for AFC Solihull when Che O’Connor couldn’t quite connect with a ball into the box and his header was comfortably saved by Sam Kirby.

Ross Barnett made a good run into the final third and played an inviting cross to the back post that found substitute Freddy Murphy who fired wide on the hour mark.

Central Ajax were pressing for the winner in the latter stages of the second half.

The visitors were mainly sitting back and playing on the counterattack in the closing stages which created a few notable chances in front of goal.

There was a good save by Sam Kirby to deny Che O’Connor who was through one on one following a quick counter attacking move by the visitors.

Substitute Jake Davis also cut inside for AFC Solihull from the left-hand side before having a shot go wide.

Central Ajax found a winner in the closing stages of the second half thanks to a moment of quality. Freddy Murphy found some space in the box before producing a brilliant strike into the top left corner that looped over Shaune Allen to make it 3-2.

They did well to see the match out in stoppage time for a huge three points which gives them some breathing space over the relegation zone.

Full Time

Central Ajax are at home to Northfield Town next Saturday before playing AFC Somers away in the Birmingham Saturday Vase the following weekend.

AFC Solihull will be looking to bounce back with a home game against Earlswood Town next Saturday before playing Continental Star away in the Birmingham Saturday Vase the following weekend.         

FT score: Central Ajax 3-2 AFC Solihull

Man of the match: Tom Dyke (Central Ajax)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League      

​Uttoxeter Town were looking for a result yesterday to get their season back on track following some tough results over the last few weeks. They were a team in form earlier in the season and went three matches unbeaten which included beating Brocton 2-1 away from home. They were looking to recapture that early momentum with a result against Highgate.   

It’s been a transitional season so far for Highgate United who are adjusting to a new manager with Alfie Marsden coming in over the summer. The gate picked up an encouraging 1-0 home win over Studley earlier in the season and looked competitive throughout August. It’s been a struggle of late with five consecutive losses in the league and they were looking to bounce back yesterday.

The Oldfield Sports Ground is a brilliant ground to visit for casual groundhoppers across the Staffordshire area. It’s accessible to get to through public transport with Uttoxeter bus station and train station in walking distance of the ground. The 63 bus runs from Cannock to Uttoxeter and there’s a train service that goes from Stoke to Uttoxeter so there’s some good options available.

It’s a ground full of character with a distinctive club house that catches the eye. The people at the club were friendly and helpful with any queries raised and do a lot of hard work behind the scenes on matchdays to make it a memorable experience for the supporters. The programme on offer was informative and mentioned the importance of volunteers and encouraged people to get involved. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Uttoxeter Town included Jack Blood starting in goal and Micky Conlon captaining the team up front. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Micky Conlon being supported by Haydn Brown and John Atherton on the wings.

There were four changes from the team that started against Hereford Pegasus in the FA Vase with Ben Price coming into the team and playing at right-back.

Highgate United’s starting line up included George Hardy starting in goal and Dominic Savolainen captaining the team from centre back. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with Tyree Sanusi and Kyle Hayden playing up front and being supported by Mitch Mollison from attacking midfield.

There were five changes from the team that started against Lichfield City a few weeks back with Rio Sawyers coming into the team and playing in holding midfield. 

​First Half

The opening fifteen minutes of the match were fairly cagey with both teams knowing the importance of it and looking to settle early on.  Highgate United were working hard off the ball throughout the first half and Rio Sawyers was impressing from holding midfield. He was able to break up the play and did well to give stop some of the Uttoxeter momentum.

​The first real chance of the match came when Mikey Conlon beat a few players down the left-hand side before squaring it to Haydn Brown who fired wide for Uttoxeter in the box.      

A few minutes later Highgate took the lead through a moment of quality. A flick on from a goal kick found Patrick McGrory who made a driving run from midfield before finding Tyree Sanusi on the edge of the box. He unleashed a quality strike into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 to the visitors after twenty minutes.

Uttoxeter kept going and were patient on the ball throughout the first half in search of an equaliser. Alex Morris was impressing at centre back and made some good clearances to take the pressure off them defensively. Jason Beardsley was also doing a good job from holding midfield to break up the play and nullify some of Highgate’s attacking threat.

There was a guilt edged chance for Ben Price on the half hour mark when he was free in the box before putting a header wide for Uttoxeter. It was a warning sign for Highgate, and they were responding to the Uttoxeter pressure well throughout the first half. Jahmari Hyatt was making some big tackles from centre back and read the game well for the visitors.

Uttoxeter had a sustained fifteen-minute spell in front of goal at the end of the first half and the pressure eventually told when Mikey Conlon was fouled by James Richardson in the box for a spot kick. Lewis Dawson stepped up and took a composed penalty into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1 going into half time.

It was an even first half with Uttoxeter having a lot of the ball and passing it around well. They were creating some good chances in the final third and looked a threat in the box. Highgate looked dangerous going forward and were capable of causing problems for Uttoxeter in the second half.

Second half

Tyree Sanusi was looking a threat for Highgate United in the early stages of the second half and got a few shots off in the box. He was getting into some good positions in and around the box for the visitors yesterday.

Uttoxeter took the lead on 55 minutes when a brilliant free kick from Mikey Conlon found Ben Price at the back post who finished it well past George Hardy to make it 2-1.

Highgate responded well to the set back and manager Alfie Marsden made a proactive substitution. He bought on Randy Osei to play up front and Troy Smikle-James to play in attacking midfield on the hour mark to bring fresh energy.

The visitors were looking to invite Uttoxeter onto them in the second half so they could catch them out on the break and make the most of the available space. It was working well and a good attack resulted in Jack blood making an instinctive save to deny Randy Osei in the box to keep it at 2-1.

The Uttoxeter keeper made another impressive save when he denied a shot from Mitch Mollison and managed to tip it round the post for a corner. The visitors were having an encouraging fifteen-minute spell of momentum in the second half and were pushing for the equaliser.

A mistake at the back by Uttoxeter allowed Highgate a huge opportunity to make it 2-2. Evan Richardson struggled to clear a ball into the box and Randy Osei was on hand to capitalise and finish into the bottom right corner to make it all square with ten minutes to go.

Troy Smikle-James made a real difference since coming on for the visitors in the second half. He made a driving run from midfield on the break before squaring it to George Elwell. The midfielder took a long range shot that caught Uttoxeter off guard and the ball went flying into the right corner to make it 3-2 to the visitors.

The best chance for Uttoxeter to get an equaliser came when the ball fell to Niall Rushton from the edge of the box. He had a shot go marginally wide of the left-hand post with a few minutes to go.

The visitors did well to see the match out in the closing stages for a huge three points that lifts them above the bottom two.

Full time

Uttoxeter played well in this match and caused Highgate some problems yesterday. The main positive for the hosts is that they’ve been competitive in their recent losses and were able to create chances in this match.

There’s experience in the squad with Mikey Conlon and Jason Beardsley part of their successful team last season that led them to a comfortable mid table finish which should offer supporters hope of staying up. They have a crucial run of fixtures over the next month and play the teams around them.

Highgate United showed their quality in the box yesterday and took their chances well to get the three points. It’s a huge result for the visitors and should give the squad some confidence and belief for their matches ahead.

The Gate have upcoming fixtures against OJM Black Country (home) and AFC Wulfrunians (away) over the next week and will be looking to build on this win.                  

FT score: Uttoxeter Town 2-3 Highgate United

Man of the match: Troy Smikle-James (Highgate United)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League