Billing United U14 faced Bilton Ajax U14 Whites in a thrilling league encounter at Bilton School on 15 December 2024, kicking off at 10:30 am. The match ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, showcasing the resilience of both teams as they battled fiercely throughout the 70 minutes of play.
Billing United adopted a 3-4-3 formation, which allowed them to maintain a solid defensive structure while providing ample support for their attacking players. Daniel Juhasz took his position in goal, shielded by a trio of defenders: Ciaran Standham-Walls in the centre, flanked by Ethan Sharp on the right and Ethan Hunt on the left. The midfield was composed of Finlay Green and Dylan Ryan on the right and left flanks respectively, with Ollie Dartnall and Tiyan Bansil operating centrally. Up front, Zip Scrivener and Eddie Viscu played as left and right forwards, supporting the central striker, Jacob Ranft.
The substitutes for Billing United included Sonny Manikiza, Joel Poku, Oscar Rayner, and Joseph Thornton, providing the coach with tactical options to influence the game as it progressed.
The match began with Bilton Ajax asserting their dominance early on, scoring their first goal just five minutes in. This early setback rattled Billing United, who struggled to find their rhythm. The situation worsened for them when Bilton Ajax doubled their lead in the tenth minute, leaving Billing United with a mountain to climb.
However, the tide began to turn in the 25th minute when Zip Scrivener found the back of the net, assisted by Jacob Ranft. This goal injected new life into Billing United, who began to push forward with renewed vigour. As the first half drew to a close, the score stood at 2-1 in favour of Bilton Ajax.
At the start of the second half, Billing United made their first substitution, bringing on Sonny Manikiza for Ollie Dartnall in the 35th minute. The change aimed to bolster their midfield presence as they sought to equalise. The match continued to ebb and flow, with both teams creating chances but failing to convert.
In the 40th minute, Joel Poku replaced Tiyan Bansil, further altering the dynamics in midfield. The substitutions appeared to have a positive impact, as Billing United began to dominate possession and create more opportunities.
The second half saw more tactical changes, with Oscar Rayner and Joseph Thornton coming on for Eddie Viscu and Ethan Sharp respectively in the 55th minute. These adjustments were crucial as Billing United pushed for an equaliser, and their persistence paid off in the 67th minute when Zip Scrivener scored his second goal of the match, assisted by Eddie Viscu. This equaliser sent the Billing United supporters into raptures, as the team had fought back from a two-goal deficit.
As the final whistle approached, both teams had chances to snatch a late winner, but neither could find the decisive goal. The match concluded with a hard-fought 2-2 draw, a testament to the determination and skill displayed by both sides. Zip Scrivener's standout performance, highlighted by his two goals, earned him the Player of the Match accolade, reflecting his pivotal role in Billing United's comeback.
