Ugly, effective, below par or simple. A win is a win in the Eredivisie’s penultimate round of games before the Dutch winter break kicks in. Neil Adderley rounds up the weekend’s football action.

Heracles Almelo 1 v 1 FC Dordrecht: Dordrecht end long losing streak

Dordrecht held on to claim a point at Heracles and finally end a ten game run of defeats. Ryan Koolwijk silenced the home crowd after just three minutes as his deflected cross squeezed past Dennis Telgenkamp in the Heracles goal.

Heracles struggled to break down the stubborn Dordrecht  rearguard until Oussama Tannane drew the home side level from the penalty spot on 71 minutes.

NAC Breda 0 v 2 Heerenveen: Simple victory ends long wait for Heerenveen

Striker Mark Uth starred for Heerenveen as the German’s brace gave Dwight Lodeweges’ men a comfortable win at struggling NAC.

Heerenveen dominated throughout and with his tenth and eleventh goals of the season, Uth delivered the Friesian’s first win since September.

NAC, who failed to capatalise on last week’s surprise victory at Cambuur, remain in deep trouble at the wrong end of the table.

ADO Den Haag 2 v 2 Excelsior: ADO rescue point with first-half fight back

Goals from Luigi Bruins on 13 minutes and Ninos Gouriye 30 minutes later, gave Excelsior a two goal lead at the Kyocera Stadion.

However, an unlikely first-half comeback saw ADO claw their way back into the game as firstly Mike van Duinen, and then Gianni Zuiverloon fired past ex-ADO keeper Coutinho.

An uneventful and goalless second period saw both sides eventually settle for a draw in a game in which a point apiece did neither team any real favours.

Willem II 0 v 1 PEC Zwolle: ‘Ugly’ away win leaves Ron Jans smiling as PEC move up to third

It wasn’t easy on the eye but PEC Zwolle, who have been lauded for their excellent play this season, came away from Tilburg with all three points.

With a stalemate looking the most likely outcome PEC boss Jans had an ace up his sleeve in the form of 18 year-old substitute Max de Boom.

The young Eredivisie debutant made an instant impact when his run and cross found the unmarked Tomas Necid who duly guided home a header from eight yards.

The win moves the Dutch cup holders into third place in the table while Willem II remain in a respectable 10th place.

Go Ahead Eagles 1 v 2 Cambuur Leeuwarden: Rusnak rocket seals Cambuur win

A Martijn Barto header and a sumptuous Albert Rusnak strike was enough to give Cambuur a deserved victory at De Adelaarshorst.

Cambuur, who had disappointed in last week’s home defeat to NAC Breda, took a deserved 27 minute lead through Martijn Barto.

With 20 minutes left on the clock Albert Rusnak settled the tie with a stunning strike worthy of winning any game.

The on-loan Manchester City midfielder collected the ball 35 yards out before unleashing a swerving shot that flew past Mickey van der Hart in the Go Ahead goal.

The Eagles pulled back a goal in injury time through a Deniz Turuc free-kick, but it was too little too late for Foeke Booy’s disappointing home team.

The win moves Cambuur into an impressive seventh place in the Eredivisie

Ajax 3 v 1 FC Utrecht: Below par Ajax see off spirited Utrecht

Ajax were cruising to victory as two goals in four first-half minutes from Thulani Serero and the in-form Davy Klaassen, gave the reigning champions a seemingly comfortable lead.

A third goal for de Boer’s team looked imminent, however, once Niklas Moisander and Ricardo Kishna wasted the opportunity to put Ajax out of reach, Utrecht grew in confidence and soon took a foothold in the game thanks to Rubio Rubin’s goal on 35 minutes.

Edourd Duplan came close to levelling for Utrecht before goalscorer Rubin’s mis-hit cross almost embarrassed Jasper Cillessen. Only a post coming to the keeper’s aid just before the break.

De Boer responded with a double substitution and the change paid instant dividends.

Within a minute Anwar El Ghazi had made space with his first touch before securing all the points by firing his second touch low and beyond Utrecht keeper Robbin Ruiter.

Groningen 1 v 1 Vitesse Arnhem: All square at the Euroborg as Vitesse go seven games without a win

Despite taking a lead, albeit against the run of play, Vitesse’s long wait for a win continues.

Groningen, who are now unbeaten in four games, started brightly and should have taken an early advantage as Mimoum Mahi had a free run on goal but failed to beat keeper Eloy Room.

The ‘pride of the North’ were made to pay on 42 minutes as Bertrand Traore finished smartly past Sergio Padt to hand Vitesse the initiative on 42 minutes.

Peter Bozs’s team failed to build on their advantage and Groningen hit back on 61 minutes as Tjarron Chery smuggled home after Room failed to hold a vicious Mahi drive.

Michael de Leeuw almost won it late on, but the Groningen forward saw his header cleared from the line leaving both teams having to settle for a score draw.

PSV Eindhoven v FC Twente: Steady PSV remain in charge with solid win

Two first-half goals from Luuk de Jong and captain Georginio Wijnaldum was enough for PSV to overcome Twente and once again leapfrog Ajax at the top of the Eredivisie.

Manager Phillip Cocu, who labelled the victory as ‘efficient,’ would have been fully aware of the earlier result at the Amsterdam ArenA.

The former Oranje international knew only a win would be enough for PSV to regain top spot and his team delivered the goods with a routine victory over a disappointing FC Twente.

While FC Twente slip to sixth place, PSV will welcome Feyenoord on Wednesday knowing a win at the Philip’s Stadium will extend their lead over Ajax at the top of the Eredivisie to four points.

Feyenoord v AZ Alkmaar: Feyenoord lose ground at the top after Kuip thriller

Despite snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat in a thriller at the Kuip – and in turn maintaining an impressive unbeaten run going back to September – Fred Rutter’s team now find themselves nine points behind leaders PSV.

The home fans were left shell shocked as AZ twice caught Feyenoord cold within four first-half minutes.

Defender Wesley Hoedt, looking suspiciously offside, gave AZ the lead with a close range header in the 25th minute before Maumer Tankovic slid home to double the away side’s advantage.

Feyenoord continued to press, and the home team was unlucky not to half AZ’s lead before the break, as Jens Toornstra struck a post from a tight angle.

The pressure finally told on 53 minutes as Colin Kazim Richards found the net with a low drive, but with AZ standing strong and continuing to threaten on the break, it seemed John van den Brom’s men would hold on for a fifth consecutive win.

Feyenoord though would be rewarded for their endeavour with an equaliser deep in to injury time.

AZ, who had defended excellently all afternoon, failed to properly clear a 94th minute corner and captain Jordy Clasie returned a weak clearance with interest to rescue a point for Feyenoord.

The result leaves Feyenoord, who travel to Eindhoven to face PSV on Wednesday, a place and point behind PEC Zwolle in third while AZ are in fifth place on goal difference.