Ajibade dismissal sours Saints’ victory

However, they had to do it the hard way after the first-half sending-off of Tunde Ajibade, writes David Hucker.

“We played well and were in control until the sending-off,” said Saints boss Luke Fogarty. “I have no complaints about the decision, but it was very out of character for Tunde.”

The incident over-shadowed a good team performance, in which Luke Swinnerton was outstanding, filling the gap left by Josh Cole’s departure.

Southam went ahead after just five minutes. Ajibade peeled off his marker and delivered a cross to Bradley Rees, who laid the ball off for Swinnerton to thump beyond the reach of 16-year-old Griff keeper Sam Slater.

Luke Church slammed a 25-yard shot narrowly wide before referee Kevin Andrews awarded Griff a penalty after a shot had hit an outstretched arm. However, Ashley Wilkes’ scuffed effort bounced past the post to let Saints off the hook.

Ajibade received his marching orders after reacting to a foul by Darren Hutchinson, with Andrews having no option but to issue a red card.

Saints doubled their lead when Swinnerton brought down a cross and feinted to shoot with his right before cleverly laying the ball off with his left to strike partner Robbie Beard who side-footed past Slater.

Playing against the wind after the break, Southam were denied a third when Slater tipped over a venomous strike from Swinnerton.

Griff responded with Jim Stott clawing away a Matt Gardner header and Liam Bailey hitting a post before substitute Ben Ashby fired home to halve the deficit.

The visitors could have levelled it with three minutes remaining but Stott made a brilliant diving save from Gudger’s first-time volley to guarantee Saints all three points.

Tomorrow, Saints are back in cup action when they visit Woodlands WMC in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup.

 After leading through a first-half strike from Tunde Ajibade, Saints were undone by two late strikes from Craig Civelis and Rickie Cutting as they went out of the Birmingham County FA Midweek Floodlit Cup to Coventry Copsewood at Allard Way on Tuesday night.