After Galaxy’s perfect start to the season had a spanner thrown in the works with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Stewkley last weekend, The green and blacks didn’t have to wait long to get back out onto the pitch to put things right again as they travelled all the way over to Olney for this weekends fixture. Still smarting from the defeat, the team knew they has a point to prove, especially after being dismantled by this Olney team on their last visit here 4-0!

Team wise, Ajax again had a full compliment of 16 with only Benaiah arriving late for kick of (50p please!). It was a special moment for our Captain Matthew ‘Foxy’ Hoskins who, having joined us in 2019, was to play his 100th game for the club and join ‘keeper Ethan in that elite group.

Ajax kicked off but it was Olney who enjoyed the early moments, but without really creating anything clear cut. They were winning the early midfield battled though with Finn, Harry nor Owen B not able to get a foot on the ball. Like the Stewkley game, it looked to be another battle of attrition! This was not to happen though and it took the visitors conceding to change things around with the Olney winger jinking inside and out before curling a great effort into the top corner from close range.

Going a goal down, woke Ajax up and spurred them on to start playing football with Foxy, Leon and Lewis working closer together at the top of the pitch and the midfield getting their foot on the ball and playing in between the lines. This was forcing the Colts to drop deeper and deeper and the equalizer was inevitable and who else was to get it, but our man of the moment Foxy. After good work from Luke and Finn, Foxy found himself one on one with the defender. He pushed the ball to his right and hit an unstoppable finish into the bottom corner. You could tell by his celebrations, he enjoyed that one!

Defensive wise, Ajax were looking solid with full backs Owen L (looking better every game btw) and Seb taking firm control of the previously dangerous Olney wingers. When the Ospreys went long, stalwart central defenders William and Thomas never gave the forwards a look in. Southpaws Noah and George joined the fray to add natural balance on the left hand side and Michael joined the midfield to add some energy but it looked like the elusive second goal would evade the visitors before half time however top score Leon would change that, just before the referee put his whistle to his lips. Bustling through the centre of the defence, Leon expertly placed the ball home from 12 yards to give Ajax a very well deserved half time lead and notch his 12th goal of the season.

The second half started as the first had finished, with Ajax in the ascendancy. Lewis was showing he have some power in his frame by tussling with the handy Olney #7 and coming out on top, nearly every time. Harry was a constant vocal in the midfield, constantly talking and playing some great passes. ‘Better late than never’ Benaiah was also starting to have a big influence on the game, dictating the play and putting in some thunderous challenges. Both teams were battling without creating a clear cut chance until 10 minutes to go when in honesty, Olney should have had an equalizer. Their left winger got the better of George, cut to his left hit a shot which was blocked, ball squared another shot, blocked wonderfully by Seb, then another block before the ball was eventually hit to safety again by George. It was a great counter attack by the home team however, Ajax got back to defend so quickly, they had 9 players back in their box before Olney got there second attempt on goal. A true testament to the effort put in by the team today!

That was the last real opportunity of the game as Ajax, manged the ball and their time until the referee blew for full time.

A great win which keeps the Linslade team joint top of the table.

Our Gartec Player of the Match for today is none other than our captain fantastic Matthew “Foxy” Hoskins. A true leader on the pitch and off who leads by example. It was written in the stars that he would play such a big part in his centenary game.