Bilton Ajax 1 - 5 Parklands Black

A new season, a new league, and the same old problems of players not turning up for matches, and not notifying the Manager, led to a five one defeat which the ten reliable team members did not deserve.
Ajax kept the opposition at bay for twenty minutes, despite the strong winds, and deserved to make half time with the low score-line.
Eight minutes into the second half saw a Parklands player being booked for aggressive behaviour, and the following Nick O'Connor free kick resulted in an Ajax goal as the keeper fumbled the ball into his own net. The constant pressure, however, could not be absorbed by the Bilton defence and they conceded another three before the final whistle. Parklands had a second player yellow carded at the end of the game, for kicking the ball away.

It was good to see this standard of refereeing at the start of the season, and perhaps if some players and club officials could cut out the bad language the game would improve even more. Well done to the ten men who did play, the match was lost by your team mates who didn't turn up!

Wooldale Red 0 - 2 Bilton Ajax

Ajax thoroughly deserved this 2-0 victory, and despite only having eleven players, with some being forced to play out of their normal positions, the whole team played simple straight forward football with such great results. After thirty three minutes James Howe, playing as striker, turned a great shot from the left side over the oncoming keeper, and despite a barrage of attacks from Wooldale, Ajax went in at half time one nil up.

Four minutes in to the second half a free kick from Nick O'Connor eventually found the feet of Ben Kimberley who scrambled the ball into the net for Ajax's second and final goal.

Wooldale had numerous chances to score but were thwarted by a great performance from Alex Maguire in goal and the never say die attitude of the back four, particularly Connor Marshall at right back and Kyle O'Farrell, who despite an injury, played with grit and determination for the whole eighty minutes.

A result like this certainly makes the return journey of a seventy mile round trip well worthwhile.

Drayton Grange Colts 4 - 3 Bilton Ajax

A full team with two reserves saw Ajax nearly come away from Daventry with a point, and perhaps if they'd played the regulation forty minutes each way they might have done. However the referee, for reasons only known to himself, played a first half of thirty three minutes and a second half of thirty four minutes.

Ryan Wareham opened the score-line after three minutes with a well taken goal on the left from a great James Howe cross, but Daventry equalised a couple of minutes later from a corner. Bilton then went to three one down before halftime after some slack marking at the back left Daventry an easy goal and then an unfortunate own goal header from Nick O'Connor.

The second half saw O'Connor make amends with a great goal from a Ryan Wareham corner, but once again Daventry came straight back, with their fourth goal, after the Ajax midfield failed to put in a serious tackle.

Tynan Jones, on his debut for Bilton was rewarded for his efforts with a great individual chip over the keeper. Unfortunately the referees second premature evacuation of the pitch put paid to an Ajax equaliser.

Bilton Ajax 1 - 2 Towcester Town

A lack-lustre performance from Ajax resulted in another defeat, and the kick and boot routine should show the team that this approach to football will not pay dividends.

Bilton had most of the play for twenty minutes, however their ability to shoot in front of goal was evident by its absence.

On the other hand Towcester strung some passes together and walked through the Ajax midfield and defence to take the lead after twenty two minutes.

Bilton appeared to switch off for the rest of the first half, and the majority of the second half ,allowing the visitors to double their score with fifteen minutes of the game left.

A Nick O'Connor free kick resulted in Bilton’s only goal, although with three minutes to go their sense of urgency was about an hour too late.

The lack of communication, and simple on the ground passing, between the players will need addressing if the team are going to get positive results.

Bilton Ajax 2 - 2 Naseby Wanderers

A fair result for both teams today, with some good football played by both sides. Ajax took the lead after fifteen minutes with a Ben Kimberley goal following a precision through ball from Ryan Wareham. Five minutes later Ajax doubled their lead after James Howe scored with some good support from his forwards. Bilton had numerous chances but the Naesby keeper thwarted every one with some great saves.

Naesby started the second half more switched on than Ajax, and levelled the score within four minutes of play, then followed some thirty minutes of end to end football with nobody able to clinch a winner. Ty Jones had a great game up front but unfortunately the Naesby keeper had a better one!

Bilton Ajax 1 - 4 Moulton Magpies Stripes

A disappointing performance today by Ajax , who fielded eleven players plus subs, but failed to perform or gel together as a team.

Bilton took the lead, after thirteen minutes, with a great goal from Ty Jones, but Moulton equalised straight from the restart. Bilton survived the first half with the score remaining at 1-1. The second half saw Ajax press the self destruct button and resort to kick and clear tactics with little or no communication, no positional play or movement, hardly any effort to win or retrieve a situation and a complete failure to help each other out in difficult positions, something, along with snide comments and disagreements, which should not be happening in a team game.

Moulton capitalised on this situation and scored another three to run out easy winners 4-1.

Bilton Ajax 2 - 0 Black Panthers

A well deserved win for Ajax and an all round team effort with every player contributing equally.

The match started after the usual Remembrance Sunday silence, well observed by all.

Panthers started well and had a lot of the initial play with Alex Maguire making four crucial saves in the first twenty minutes. Bilton forwards had some forays into the Panthers defence but didn't really test their keeper.

The second half saw Nick O'Connor move to a forward position and a great battling run from James Lunn provided an assist to O'Connor who powered it past the keeper after just four minutes.

This spurred Bilton on and twenty minutes later Ty Jones chipped the keeper to make it two nil.Panthers still kept attacking but were thwarted by a solid Ajax defence, and on a last minute breakaway a one on one between O'Connor and the Panthers keeper saw him produce a great tip over the bar from the Bilton forwards hard volley.

A good performance by both teams played in a sporting manner.

MOTM Conor Marshall for a vocal and outstanding performance

Moultonfields Fusion 1 - 1 Bilton Ajax

Ajax made the long trip to a superb sporting facility at Moulton, with only ten men but played with grit and determination to come away with a well deserved point.

Neither keeper were tested to any extent as the game was fought out in midfield, although Ajax took a well deserved lead after thirty nine minutes with a great corner from Ryan Wareham, who found the head of Nick O'Connor.

Moulton replied, six minutes into the second half, with a similar goal and then the next half hour saw an end to end conflict with no further score.

Its a pity that some team members were unavailable, but if every body used the teamer.net notification system then at least the manager would know team numbers and names before the kick off!

Naseby Wanderers 3 - 2 Bilton Ajax

The Battle at Naseby, 14.06-15.30pm.
Once again a valiant attempt by Ajax, with only eleven men ,nearly saw them through to the next round and they were very unlucky not to go into extra time.

Naseby took the lead from a corner after twenty two minutes,against the run of play, and then did exactly the same just before half time.

A change of positions at half time saw ,once again, Nick O'Connors' battling strength produce a goal, but Naseby increased their lead after a collision between Alex Maguire in goal, an Ajax defender and a Naseby player left the keeper injured on the deck and an open goal to score in. Jack Britton took over in goal and Ajaxs' ten men still battled on.

Connor Marshall, who was suffering from flu, finally succumbed and his place was taken on the pitch by Alex Maguire. Still the battle at Naseby continued and Bilton were justly rewarded with a second goal by Ben Kimberley. Unfortunately time ran out for Ajax but every player gave their all for the team.

Naseby Wanderers 2 - 6 Bilton Ajax

The Battle at Naseby, Part Deux-The Revenge.

Another trip to the Naseby battleground, only this time Ajax took no prisoners. Ajax once again had most of the first half play and took the lead after twenty three minutes with a well taken James Lunn free kick which found the head of Nick O'Connor. Naseby replied back with an easy goal two minutes later. Kyle O'Farrell then cooly tapped in with the Naseby keeper well beaten, and a minute before half time was the victim of a late tackle in the penalty area, O'Connor well and truly planting the ball in the back of the net from the penalty spot.

Once again Ajax, with only eleven men, went into the second half with O'Farrel and O'Connor swapping places but thirty five minutes went by before we saw the reward. Ty Jones made a great cross from the left hand side which fooled the keeper and went into the top corner of the net to put Bilton 4-1 up. O'Farrel then laid on a great through ball for O'Connor to crack a goal home.

Naseby came back with a great volley, but O'Connor finished the game with his fourth goal just before the final whistle.

A great team performance from every player but Kyle O'Farrel stood out as the man who could do no wrong, even down to the totally outrageous trick kick to get past a Naseby player which made everyone smile. Well Done.

MOTM Kyle O’Farrell

Phoenix Rangers 3 - 5 Bilton Ajax

Once again a good all round team performance today with Ajax starting to believe in their ability to play good football.

With the wind, rain and slope of the pitch in their favour Ajax took twenty minutes to score their first goal, a Ryan Wareham corner finding Nick O'Connor in a positive shooting position. Rangers equalised eight minutes later on a breakaway run, but Bilton kept up the pressure when Kyle O'Farrell steam-rollered through to score a well deserved goal. Just before half time Ajax increased their lead with a piercing through ball from Conor Marshall to the feet of Ty Jones who easily beat the Rangers keeper.

The second half started with Bilton less positive in their play and the failure to put a tackle in, in front of their goal, let Phoenix score their second goal. Bilton continued to attack and another Wareham corner, always with height and distance, landed at the feet of Ty Jones for an easy tap in. Rangers never gave up and caught the Ajax defence napping again to bring their tally up to three, but continued pressure from the Ajax midfield and forwards gave Bilton the edge, finally resulting in a twenty yard shot from Nick O'Connor to seal the match win with ten minutes to go.

Bilton Ajax 5 - 2 Drayton Grange Blades

A convincing, if not easy, win for Ajax against bottom of the table Blades, who could only field nine players.

Kyle O 'Farrell opened the scoring with one of his steamrollering runs through the middle, and then fifteen minutes later continued pressure in the Blades area saw a well deserved goal from Peter Korcz, just reward for his consistent play.

Drayton never gave up and scored one back straight from the restart. Ajax had numerous chances, but were thwarted by an in form keeper, the offside trap and poor aiming.

The second half saw the usual repositioning of players, and the blistering pace of Nick O'Connor, who latched on to a great through ball from Ryan Wareham, took Bilton's tally to three.

Ty Jones eventually managed to beat the offside trap and scored twice in fifteen minutes, and Drayton scored their second with about fifteen minutes to go.

A good way to finish the year off and it shows that this group of individuals are now starting to look, and play, like a team.

Parklands Tigers 3 - 2 Bilton Ajax

Ajax, who were beaten by a better side, had more than enough chances to reverse the result, but unfortunately poor finishing, especially early on in the first half, saw them come away with nothing.

Parklands went two up within the first fifteen minutes, as Ajax seemed unable to tackle or string passes together, but an in form Kyle O'Farrell managed to pull the score back to 2-2 by halftime. Bilton did have some good chances in front of goal, but the Parklands keeper dealt with them all.
The second half saw Parklands keep possession with some skillful ball play and passing, and they eventually took the lead after thirty minutes. Bilton looked a bit rusty after the Xmas break, but hopefully will get back to their 2011 standard quite quickly.

One must also comment on the early finish of the first half, by at least two minutes, Parklands second goal ,which certainly looked like handball, and the second half finishing exactly on forty minutes despite numerous stoppages and substitutions during that half.

Bilton Ajax 2 - 5 Obelisk United Black

Another frustrating afternoon, as Ajax were overwhelmed but not particularly outplayed, on an underlying frosty pitch.

Ajax had numerous chances in the first half, but once again didn't have the finishing power to convert chances into goals.

Obelisk ,on the other hand, converted their chances and were three -nil up at half time.

The second half started in a similar vein to the first half ,with the visitors getting another easy goal, as the Ajax midfield and defence let the opposition walk through without a challenge to take a four nil lead.

Kyle O'Farrell picked up a great Ty Jones cross from the left to get one back for Bilton after fifteen minutes , and was their again to do the same, five minutes later, following a lobbed through ball from Nick O'Connor.

Ajax managed to keep out Obelisk for the next twenty minutes but were eventually overwhelmed as they piled on more pressure to score their fifth.
A disjointed performance ,where no-one played badly, but nobody shone through.

Gregory Celtic Green 5 - 1 Bilton Ajax

Ajax, with only a ten man team, were outclassed by a slick, well disciplined opponent and did well to limit their score to five goals.

On a windy afternoon, with a full sized pitch, Ajax's ten men seemed to be in all the wrong positions and stretched to their limits, failing to string worthwhile passes together and by the fortieth minute were three - nil down, however on a rare foray into the Gregory's half Ben Kimberley scored a great volley past the untested keeper ,on the half time whistle.

The second half started well for Bilton but didn't last as the home team took control and ran amok through the Ajax defence time and again. It was only poor shooting that kept the final tally to five ,as a lack of tackling and commitment let them through quite easily.

All in all a day to forget.

Towcester Town 4 - 2 Bilton Ajax

Ajax traveled to Towcester with eleven players and no subs and were unlucky to come away without even a point.

Playing downhill in the first half, Bilton took the lead after sixteen minutes, with a great through ball from Nick O'Connor to Kyle O'Farrel who split the defence and cracked home a great goal.Unfortunately just five minutes later a clumsy tackle in the Ajax box gave Towcester the first of two unstoppable penalties in the match. Ten minutes into the second half Towcester took the lead, due to some poor marking and tackling but Bilton replied with a simple three touch goal from Nick O'Connor to Kyle O'Farrel to Ty Jones who tapped it home. Towcesters' second spot kick was then awarded, once again for a late tackle, and then just before full time the Bilton defence broke down to let through Towcesters fourth. A good team performance with everybody playing for each other, its just a pity that the missing squad members couldn't make more of an effort to turn up.

Bilton Ajax 5 - 2 Wooldale Red

Ajax deserved this decisive win, and all eleven players put in 100% effort. After just five minutes Kyle O'Farrel opened the score and Bilton dominated for the rest of the half, with Ty Jones adding one at twenty minutes and O'Farrel scoring a twenty yarder after half an hour. Wooldale had numerous chances in front of the Bilton goal, but some fine saves by Alex Maguire kept the scoreline to three nil at halftime.

Bilton started the second half just as well, and Nick O'Connor took the scoreline up to 4-0 with a well struck penalty. Ben Kimberley slotted home Ajaxs' fifth goal after ten minutes then Bilton went into sleep mode for the next fifteen minutes allowing the visitors to comeback with a couple of goals.

Bilton were the strongest team and their victory never looked in doubt, lets hope they can continue in this vein.

Bilton Ajax 1 -7 Obelisk United Red

A game of two halves, atrocious weather and playing conditions and disappointment, just another Sunday at Alwyn Road.

Bilton managed to play football in the first half and even took the lead , despite horizontal rain and a waterlogged pitch, from an opportunist goal from Kyle O'Farrel and were unlucky to concede a goal just before half time to level things up.

Perhaps a strategic withdrawal at half time ,due to unplayable conditions would have been the right decision, however play continued and Obelisk took complete control, with wave after wave of attacks on the Ajax goal. Bilton had no idea what to do and conceded five more, as well as an own goal to finish ,what was for everybody but Obelisk, a complete waste of an afternoon. Better luck next week.

Drayton Grange Blades 0 - 2 Bilton Ajax

A sunny afternoon saw the Ajax team minus regular keeper Alex out through injury. The pitch at the college has odd sized goals and had they been correct size Ajax would have been 6 up by half time having hit the crossbar many times but they had to settle with the 1 goal scored by Kyle O'Farrell after a lovely ball through from Tynan Jones.

The second half goal was a well taken penalty by Nick O'Connor following a hand ball in the box. on a sunny and warm afternoon Ajax battled well to keep Drayton at bay for most of the game. Well Done all.