Wellesbourne Wanderers 4 – 0 Bilton Ajax U14’s

Sunday September 12th 2010

Having gained promotion last season, our opening game was against last season's league champions. After 20 minutes it seemed that if that was the best the 1st division had to offer we would have no problems, with Ajax having the best of the opening exchange.  However, two well hit long range efforts sent Ajax into half time trailing 2-0.

The second half looked even as well until the Ajax lads started to tire and Wellesbourne's fitness started to show.  The result was two more goals in the last 2 minutes to give them a flattering win.

The positives included a great return to football for man of the match, Josh Ireson and a good debut from Harry Taylor.

It will take only a few minor improvements to improve on this result.

Bilton Ajax 1 – 6 Banbury Irish U14’s

Sunday 19th September 2010

A hugely disappointing first half allowed Irish to go in at half time 3-0 up.  Several of the players were anonymous with their minds not focussed at all.  Having to change pitches at the last minute due to an apparent double booking didn’t help pre match preparation.

After half time Ajax woke up, putting more effort in and starting to pass the ball about. Man of the match Harry Taylor, moving to midfield made a significant difference with some lovely control and distribution. Unfortunately Irish scored another three with one reply from Keelan Offer.  Ruairi O’Brien had another strong game in the centre of defence, as did Will Meakin.  Dennis Page was as reliable as ever and Daniel Harbord worked hard down the flank. 

Let’s hope this was a one off and there are big improvements for the next game.

Bilton Ajax 3 - 4 Southam Utd U14’s

Sunday 26th September 2010

Today the lads deserve credit for their hard work.  They were only 5 minutes and one bizarre refereeing decision away from their first points. 

At first Southam applied serious pressure on the Ajax goal, taking a deserved 2-0 lead.  It could have been more but for some good fortune and the efforts of goalkeeper and man of the match, Tom Carey.  Gradually Ajax gained composure and started passing.  Now Southam looked ordinary and by half time Keelan Offer and Charles Khawula had made it 2-2.

Ajax started the second half well.  Mid way through, after a move down the left, Offer made it 3-2.  Southam exerted pressure for the equaliser, which came 10 minutes from time.  With 5 minutes to go, the referee stepped in with an Attwell of a decision, which Southam duly scored from!

There’s still work to do, but a creditable performance all round from the lads.

Bilton Ajax 1 - 7 Balsall & Berkswell

Sunday 10th October 2010

Ajax created three good chances immediately.  Balsall broke and scored with their first shot.  Ajax created more chances. Balsall broke, gained a free kick and scored a second.  After 25 minutes, following the same pattern, Balsall were 4-0 up yet Ajax were playing all the football.  Eventually Ajax got their deserved break through as Keelan Offer grabbed two back before half time. 

Immediately after the restart Charles Khawula made it 4-3 and it was game on. Unfortunately Ajax gave the ball away in a dangerous position to let Balsall make it 5-3.  Then Khawula made if 5-4.  The momentum was with Ajax but defensive errors allowed Balsall to grab two more.  It was an unjust score-line, but you will get punished for basic mistakes.  That said, the general performance was very good.  Offer and Khawula shared man of the match with Adam Huxford also putting in an impressive performance.

Balsall & Berkswell 3 – 3 Bilton Ajax

Sunday 6th February 2011

The Ajax performance today deserved far more than a draw.  In windy conditions the team played short, neat passing to dominate the opening exchanges, creating several good chances.  Yet minutes before half time Balsall pounced on a couple of mistakes to undeservedly go in 2-0 up at the break.

In the second half Ajax stuck to their high standard of football and deservedly pulled level with two goals from Adam Huxford.  Balsall took the game to Ajax, taking a 3-2 lead, but Denis Page hit a long range effort into the top of the net to level. 

Ajax had the bare eleven, of Carey, O’Brien, Harbord, Page, Woodcock, Huxford, Fewz, Clarke, Taylor and Mearns.  On a day of excellent performances right across the team, the man of the match award was shared between Scott Woodcock and Adam Huxford.

Banbury Irish1 – 2 Bilton Ajax

Sunday 13th February 2011

Against the high flying Banbury, Ajax expected a hard game.  In the first half though the lads were more than equal, with some great, simple football making Banbury look ordinary. Will Meakin and man of the match Daniel Harbord ensured that the gigantic Banbury centre forward had no impact on the game today.

Banbury opened the scoring and were unlucky not to double it when they hit the post, but Ajax made their own luck.  At the start of the second half, Adam Huxford scored the equaliser as Ajax started to control the game. Ajax played a quick passing game with the ball hardly being given away at all. James Fewz in particular showed great intelligence on the ball.  Huxford gained his second and if anything Ajax looked likely to score more.

This wasn’t just the best performance of this season, but as good as anything from last season.

Bilton Ajax 2 – 5 Hillmorton Juniors

Sunday 13th March 2011

Repeated scuffed clearances eventually cost Ajax and they gifted Hillmorton four soft goals by half time.  It was disappointing as there didn’t seem much between the sides apart from that.

At half time I asked the lads to go out and win the second half which they did with a more assured performance.  Tom Carey hit the crossbar and later forced an excellent save.   Scott Woodcock was also unlucky not to score.  Eventually the pressure paid off as Ajax won a penalty, converted by Harry Taylor.  A lovely move resulted in Alan Worgagz pulling the score back to 4-2.  Ajax were looking for a third, but instead conceded when defender Daniel Harbord was brought down allowing the forward in to score.  

Ajax showed Hillmorton too much respect in the first half of this match, with the exception of man of the match Ruairi O’Brien, with a hard, determined performance throughout.

Bilton Ajax 0 - 7 Central Ajax

Sunday 10th April 2011

Central Ajax won the league with this result.  Their performance matched their position as they proved to be a strong, organised side.

Bilton were not outclassed though.  Although a couple of mistakes helped Central to a 3-0 score-line at half time, Ajax had been defending well. 

Two further goals occurred when keeper Harry Job was injured, having to be replaced by regular keeper Tom Carey, who started outfield.  Will Meakin and Daniel Harbord battled hard with two very big Central forwards.  Left back Denis Page defended well, linking nicely down the left with Tom Carey.

In midfield Central prevented Ajax from playing the ball around as fluently as normal, but Adam Huxford, James Fewz, Stuart Clarke and Scott Woodcock all persevered.  Attackers Zach Hyde, Harry Taylor and Toby Mearns worked hard against a solid defence.

Man of the match was Ruairi O’Brien who took no prisoners with his tackling!