Ajax Hotspurs strike off the venom off Green Mambas

Ajax Hotspurs (1) 3 - (1) 2 Green Mambas
Ajax Hotspurs continued with their rich vein of form as they struck off the venom off Green Mambas in a match played at Somhlolo Stadium koBango in Mpopoma over the weekend. The youthfull Mpopoma based side that seems to be finally pressing the right buttons got their goals through enterprising dreadlocked striker Nqobilizwe Dabuka Ncube and a brace from Zimbabwe Youthful International trialist Thulani Thuske Gumede. Mambas got their strikes from a well indirect freekick in the 12 yard box by Bhekinkosi Gumbi and an own goal at the death by imposing defender Bekithemba Malopa Mabhena off a Gumbi delivery once again.

The scoreline does scant justice to Hotspurs dominance as the youngstars completely outfoxed and out-thought their more experienced adversaries who had thumped Ajax Hotspurs 3-0 in their own backyard in Emakhandeni earlier in the season.

Ajax Hotspurs intention was felt as early as the 5th minute when young Chrispen Machisi jinxed his way past Carlos Taungwira with a well executed step-over, he then spotted Dabuka making a run off the shoulder of a defender down the left channel. He unselfishly sent a beauty to Dabuka who fooled a defender with a cheeky body swerve before cutting inside his right. He came face to face with the glovesman who however did well to smoother the imminent danger. Machisi once again produced a sublime piece of skill to outfox three defenders on the halfway line before slipping a pass through the Mambas defence which found evergreen Maxwell Mburayi who released Esau Mvula down the right channel.

Mvula sent in a first time pinpoint cross which was met with a powerful flashing header by Gumede. The goalkeeper Michael Ndlovu fumbled the ball and Dabuka was the quickest off the blocks and buried the second ball to give Hotspurs a well deserved lead. Dabuka was to be sent scampering through by Kingsley Best but he rushed his attempt skying high and wide with the goalkeeper at his mercy.

Mambas got a reprieve and restored parity before the break when they were awarded an indirect freekick in the 12 yard box after young Bulawayo Metropolitan Youth games goalkeeper Thabani Ndlovu fumbled the ball off a cross by Kitu Noko. He dropped the ball and picked it up again leaving the referee with no choice but to give the away side a dead ball chance. Mambas accepted the offer with Gumbi lifting the ball over the wall and past a stranded Ndlovu. Mambas laid a brief siege into the Ajax defensive third in search of a sucker punch but found Jeffrey Jengwa impregnable.

In the final half Ajax Hotspurs showed their intention pummeling Mambas left right and centre with Gumede and Dabuka taking the show off Machisi and finally Mambas cracked. Mburayi was fouled down the right channel and up-stepped Gumede whose curling drive took a wicked deflection off Xolie Ncube to deceive Ndlovu 2-0. In the 35th minute Peter Muduhwa released Ncube who ran at the Mambas defence before releasing Gumede who slipped the ball through the on rushing Ndlovu 3-1 Hotspurs was becoming to hot to handle.

However Mambas sent some shivers down the spines of Ajax Hotspurs and its supporters as they got an equaliser in the 46th minute off an own goal by Mabhena who tucked the ball past Thabani Ndlovu who had covered the danger. The goal set up a nervy finish but Hotspurs held on to record their second win on the trot.

Teams

Ajax Hotspurs
Thabani Ndlovu, Thamsanqa Jubane, Esau Mvula, Bekithemba Mabhena, Jeffrey Jengwa, Peter Muduhwa, Chrispen Machisi, Thulani Gumede, Maxwell Mburayi, Nqobilizwe Ncube, Kingsley Best (Douglas Jeremiah 86th minute)

Green Mambas
Michael Ndlovu, Julius Mawara (Eddious 56th minute), Mcdowell Farau, Xolie Ncube,Trymore Sibanda, Jerrey Chauma, Carlos Taungwa (Kelvin 79th minute), Kitu Noko, Bhekinkosi Gumbi, Brian Sibanda, Divie Dzimaro