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Sunday 21st September
Bilton Ajax 2 – 7 Wellesbourne Under 13’s
This was Ajax’s first game of the season and was indeed a ‘game of two halves ‘.
Ajax dominated the first twenty minutes of the match and it was only eight minutes in when Coyle made a great run up the right wing to take a powerful shot which was parried by the Wellesbourne keeper, only for Coyle to take a second shot to score the opening goal.
Wellesbourne recovered to equalize after twenty seven minutes .They then took the lead two minutes later.
In the second half Wellesbourne came out all fired up, and Ajax took a back seat, failing to tackle or clear with any real commitment. The following twenty minutes saw the opposition score another five goals, with Marshall, for Ajax, getting a consolation goal towards the end of the game. The final score doesn’t do Ajax justice, and if there was more team effort and less individual skills, and the ability to attempt more shots at goal, then maybe the lads might be winners. Credit must go to Williams for a consistent performance at the back, but a lack of passion to shoot while in front of goal was Ajax’s downfall.
Sunday 28th September
Bilton Ajax 9 – 2 Woodloes Under 13’s
This was indeed a joy to watch. Some strategic alterations to players positions, by manager Rob Ward, before the match, left Ajax in total control of the field for the majority of the game.
Three minutes in saw striker Lewis Coyle pick up an easy through ball and slot it past the keeper, and six minutes later he travelled on a one man mission down the right wing to chip over the keeper for number two.
Concentration lapsed just long enough for Woodloes to pull one back and Ajax had to wait until thirty one minutes for James Lunn to get his first from a goal mouth scramble following a corner. A Golby through ball found James Lunn waiting for his second goal just before half time.
The second half saw a great individual run up the right wing and successful chip into the far corner from Connor Marshall to take Ajax into a 5-1 lead and a second consolation goal for Woodloes came via bad marking on a corner kick.
A four goal flurry then ensued with great finishing from Todd Williams on a solo effort starting from the halfway line, two goals from Rees Hawes with brilliant service from Marshall and Coyle.
And finally Connor Marshall got a well deserved second goal after a hectic goal mouth scramble where it seemed the ball wouldn’t go in the net.
What a difference a week makes, teamwork by everyone, including the subs, makes for a very pleasurable Sunday afternoon. Well Done!!!
Sunday 19th October 2008
Bilton Ajax 5 – 5 Snitterfield Colts Under 13’s
A match, where eventually both teams played as well and as poorly as each other and the spoils were shared.
It all started off so well for Ajax, and constant pressure found Rees Hawes strong enough up front to volley a powerful shot past a helpless Snitterfield keeper after only eight minutes. Against the run of play, a complacent midfield let through Snitterfield to grab an equaliser fifteen minutes later. Bilton continued to play the long balls through the middle for Andrew Ward and then James Lunn to put Ajax three one up at half time. Golby played exceptionally well with some spirited tackling and passing.
The second half saw Snitterfield up the pace and Ajax take a back seat as the visitors pulled one back four minutes into the second half. Jack Babbington was well rewarded for all his efforts just two minutes later with another individual run down the right wing finishing off with a cracking goal. Then during a fifteen minute spell three more goals were scored, one by Rees Hawes and two by Snitterfield to take it up to 5 – 5. Snitterfield had a final opportunity to clinch the three points with a penalty with ten minutes to go, but could only sky it way above the bar.
Ajax played some very nice football at the start of the game but slipped into mediocrity and failed to find the killer instinct in front of goal.
Sunday 9th November 2008
Alcester Athletic 6 – 1 Bilton Ajax
League Cup 1st Round
It wasn’t only some of the Ajax drivers/parents/supporters who lost their way to this windy, cold but dry away fixture against Alcester Athletic .
The score gives testimony to the fact that some of the players seem to have lost their way as well!
Ajax played against the strong wind in the first half, and after only a minute conceded the first goal from a corner, with the defence failing to mark one of the tallest players on the pitch who easily headed the ball home.
It took another twenty four minutes for Alcester to make it two nil, with Ajax showing no consistency in simple passing or committed tackling and Alcester went into half time four nil up after scoring two more from set pieces, once again marking , or the lack of it, the reason for the Ajax’s downfall.
The second half saw Ajax playing with the wind, but they failed to utilise their scoring opportunities with most of their efforts going wide of the mark.
Alcester scored two more, from a corner and free kick, same reasons as before and James Lunn scored a consolation goal with a minute to go.
The manager’s team talk, after the match, should be echoed here for all to read.
The team is better than any one individual, if you can’t show commitment or respect to coaches, manager, or the team, both on and off the pitch, you will be replaced.
Wise words, let’s just hope that everybody takes note!!!
Sunday 16th November 2008
Banbury Irish 3 – 3 Bilton Ajax
It was well worth the long trip to Banbury Irish for a very entertaining and sporting match played by both teams.
Ajax could only field ten men, due to injury, family commitments and selfish egos, and in an extremely sporting gesture, Banbury fielded ten men to match.
The game was evenly balanced until the thirteenth minute when Todd Williams made a run up front, from his usual defensive position, and with an adept one –two coolly slotted past an incoming defender and goalkeeper.
The game continued to be fought out in midfield until ten minutes from half time, when a long punt up field from the Banbury keeper, found the Ajax defence totally out of position leaving the Ajax keeper no chance.
Ten minutes into the second half saw yet another long ball tear through the Ajax defence and with only Alex Maguire in goal to beat Banbury took the lead.
Jack Babbington made it two all from the penalty spot after Andrew Ward was fouled in the box, and then he put Ajax into the lead with a great shot following some good support work from Andrew Ward again.
With five minutes to go Banbury piled on the pressure and were thoroughly rewarded with a free header from a last minute corner.
A mention must be given to Shane Cave who worked tirelessly at right back, midfield and upfront!!!!
Thanks to all the lads of both teams a very fair referee and the Banbury Irish management for taking such a sporting attitude. Long may it continue.
Sunday 23rd November 2008
Bilton Ajax 4 – 3 Emscote Colts
A cold afternoon at Alwyn Road saw an entertaining match played under blue skies, grey skies and torrential rain.
Ajax dominated the first fifteen minutes, with some good passing and tactical play and despite numerous attempts at goal could not find the back of the net. Colts, on the other hand had only one attempt at goal, and scored with a cracking shot from way out on the right wing after seventeen minutes. A good shot parried by Maguire in goal fell back to the feet of the Colts attacker two minutes later who didn’t need a third shot to score.
Ajax continued to push the ball around but could make no headway, and Emscote took a third goal against the run of play. James Lunn managed to lob the Colts keeper a minute before half time to give Bilton a glimmer of hope and reward for their first half efforts.
The second half saw Ajax again dominate midfield and, as weather conditions turned decidedly worse, Todd Williams pulled another goal back. It was that man Williams again who sent in one of his typical corners which found James Lunn free to head home the equaliser. Bilton were rewarded with the three points after twenty-seven minutes when Jack Babbington scored the winner, a fitting end to the match for his hard work and effort throughout the game. Ajax then battened down the hatches to deny Colts any points at all.
Bilton deserved this win, and for the second week every player seems to be giving their all for the team, if only they would score earlier in their matches, the managers, and supporter’s blood pressures might take less of a pounding.
Sunday 30th November
Kenilworth Town 2 – 5 Bilton Ajax
Another away match proved lucrative for Ajax this weekend with a decisive win.
Kenilworth went one up after eight minutes with a prolonged goal mouth scramble, where Ajax couldn’t clear the ball properly despite numerous attempts, but only had to wait five minutes for Todd Williams to take the ball down the left hand side and coolly lob it over the displaced keeper.
Jack Babbington then made the score sheet with a run from midfield and a carefully placed shot to the side of Kenilworth’s keeper.
With two minutes to half time , Kenilworth equalised ,direct from a free kick outside the box, by carefully lobbing it over the Ajax goalies head.
The second half started well for Ajax as a Todd Williams corner found James Lunn’s head who powered it in, and the favour was returned, twenty minutes later when Lunn’s well placed cross found Todd Williams with only the keeper to beat.
Ajax made sure of three points with another goal from Lunn with ten minutes to go.
Once again Bilton played as a complete team, despite having no substitutes, and every one worked for each other with no selfish attitudes.
It’s getting better every week, keep it up!!!!!!
Sunday 7th December 2008
Stratford Phoenix 2-3 Bilton Ajax
Supplementary Cup Preliminary Round
A typical cup tie and all that goes with it. Disputes, arguments, ill feeling, bad tempers and bad language, thank goodness the lads on the pitch rose above the adults’ behaviour, and let their football do the talking.
At a cold and frozen Stratford High School the referee made the teams move to a less frosted pitch, to save players injuries, and the game proceeded fairly evenly for the first twenty eight minutes.
Andrew Ward then made a probing run up the left wing past a handful of defenders and made a great attempt at goal, but the luckless Phoenix keeper could only parry the shot into the path of Jack Babbington who easily tapped it in.
A dubious tackle, which went unpunished by the referee, on Alex Maguire in goal, held up the game for five minutes, and led to the touch line disputes.
Just one minute into the second half saw a Todd Williams typical in swinging corner find Josh Hughes who made it two -nil. Bilton then defended their lead for all its worth, but under sustained pressure, Stratford pulled one back after twelve minutes.
Straight from the restart Jack Babbington picked a through ball up and easily slotted it past the keeper to make it three – one.
Ajax then had numerous chances which they failed to convert, and Stratford pulled one back on the thirty fourth minute.
A well deserved win for the Bilton boys, and The Man of the Match award was given to Akshay Mistry who played a great game at full back.
One must question the attitude of some parents and team officials, on the sidelines, who blatantly use foul language during a match and allow their offspring and charges to do the same on the pitch.
Also referees, who played thirty years ago and remember goalies being bundled into the back of the net by a centre forward, not having their attitudes and rule interpretations modernised and brought up to today’s standards.
Sunday 21st December 2008
Emscote Colts 1 – 2 Bilton Ajax Supplementary Cup 1st Round
Another well earned win in the cup for the Ajax boys, takes them through to the quarter finals.
It was especially deserved after turning up with only nine men, holidays and illness causing the absences.
Emscote, in a sporting gesture, allowed Dave, one of their substitutes, to don the red and white stripes of Ajax and make our number up to ten.
The game was very tight for the first twenty five minutes, with no side making a breakthrough, then Jack Babbington struck a tremendous volley from outside the box to leave the Colts goalie statue like between the sticks.
That man Babbington struck again, seven minutes later, with a cheeky punt towards the goal, the high bounce going straight over the keepers head.
The second half continued with both sides piling on the pressure and Emscotes’ only goal came after a shot from a corner was parried just into the corner by Alex Maguire.
Todd Williams was unlucky to score, despite sterling work up front, and thanks must go to his dad, Dave, for running the line, falling over in the mud, and giving us all a good laugh.
Men of the Match were, Ali Walker, George Golby and Jack Babbington, but every team member played to their full capabilities.
Merry Christmas and a successful New Year.
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