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AmaZayoni would have been very tense when Lance Davids cancelled out Thom-Rick Octobers’ opening goal in the first half, but Moroka Swallows’ 1-0 defeat of Jomo Cosmos ensured that the Mpumalanga side finished second from bottom.
Aces will now have to participate in the notoriously difficult relegation/promotion playoffs with three National First Division sides.
Ajax were the first to threaten a goal, with Diyo Sibisi’s drive well saved by goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro in the fifth minute.
On 13 minutes Aces had a chance to open the scoring when Mpho Maleka had a headed chance in the penalty area but he was unable to keep his attempt down.
There were no further incidents of any note until just after the half hour mark when Ajax defender Clayton Daniels brought down Maleka inside the 18-yard area and the visitors were awarded a penalty.
Right-back and former Ajax player Thom-Rick October stepped up to take the spot kick and duly beat Hans Vonk to his left – 1-0 in favour of Aces.
However, the Urban Warriors hit back in the 41st minute through Lance Davids, who struck a swerving, dipping free kick that found the back of the net, though Murambadoro might have done more on his goal line.
A quarter of an hour into the second half, October looked to net a second from a free kick but he curled the ball wide of the target.
The two teams struggled to create scoring chances in the tense game, with Aces surely keeping themselves up to date with Jomo Cosmos’ game against Moroka Swallows and what it meant as regards the relegation situation.
On 80 minutes another October free kick found the head of Madoda Motha but the substitute’s effort was straight at Vonk.
By this stage, however, news filtered through that the Birds had scored a late goal against Cosmos and Aces’ chances of finishing bottom of the log lengthened significantly.
The game ended in a tame 1-1 draw but Aces were naturally delighted at having been given a second chance to retain their top flight status.
