AJAX look destined for the drop
AJAX’s last realistic chance of surviving relegation slipped away on Saturday, after Mark Williams’ side went down to the Parkdale Falcons by 32 points.
While the Jackas were never favourites to win Saturday’s clash, a victory by any margin would have likely secured safety in B-grade for another year- however it was not to be.
The opening two quarters represented a war of attrition as both sides tried unsuccessfully to wear each other down and open up a gap on the scoreboard.
Shots at goal were few and far between for both teams, in large part due to the icy wind gusts sweeping over Gerry Green Reserve, making it especially difficult to hit moving targets.
The third quarter saw Parkdale get on top of an AJAX side that was without a staggering 15 players from the 22 that took to the field at Princes Park in round one.
A late flurry of goals including a spectacular left foot snap from Dean Rotenberg wasn’t enough to close the gap and stage an unlikely comeback, as AJAX fell by 32 points.
20 year-old Charlie Hamilton is one of just seven players to have taken the field in both round one and on the weekend, registering one of his best performances of the year.
“A lot of things went wrong this year. We lost 3 or 4 of our most experienced players from last season, which really hurt us. Expectations were maybe too high at the start of the year.”
“In order for AJAX to be in B-grade, all the young players coming through have really got to work hard and mature as footballers. Its on us to move this club from where it is now into the future,” Hamilton said.
AJAX will have to pull off a miracle upset over top side St Bernards on Saturday if they are to survive the drop, in what will be Mark ‘Choco’ Williams’ last game in charge of the Jackas.
Earlier, a highly makeshift Reserves side performed admirably against Parkdale Reserves. Drained of much of their top-talent, the Reserves were forced to call upon an army of fill-ins, including 36 year-old former Premiership player Geoff Measey.
While the Reserves defenders did well to restrict Parkdale to just 11 goals for the day, the AJAX forwards were unable to get the scoreboard ticking over, finishing the game with just four goals.
Olly Hoffman did his best, finishing with two goals, while Measey and David Glass both chipped in with one each.
If results go as expected in next week’s penultimate round, the AJAX Reserves can expect to finish a respectable seventh spot on the ladder.
Ash Obel
Media & Communications Manager
Scores
Firsts- 8.12 (60) def by Parkdale Vultures 13.14 (92)- Goals:D. Rothschild 2, J. Goldberg 2, D. Rotenberg 2, N. Cohen, J. Forbes. Bests: R. Simon, S. Fayman, N. Lewis, J. Ludski, C. Hamilton, J. Bade-Boon
Reserves- 4.9 (33) def by Parkdale Vultures 11.19 (85) - Goals: O. Hoffman 2, G. Measey, D. Glass. Bests: O. Hoffman, J. Teperman, A. Gilberg, J. Liberman, J. Burston, D. Glass.
