match44: 15 Feb 09 vs. white-shirt team (4) @ Beatty Sec 1-1 draw

Wilson (GK)

Firdaus Masdar - Calvin - Akim - Shafi

Omar - Helmi - Rahman - Fazli

Farhan - Rafeeq

Subs:
Azmi
Joharie
Azman
Rahman C4
Kelvin
Syafiq
Syaifudean

Scorer:
Farhan

p44 w16 d10 l18 f96 a114

For the 4th time, we met the same opponents but where previous results have been in our favour, it was a different story this time though with a draw, the result wasn't half that bad.

Our opponents were restricted to a few wayward long range efforts and their GK was having goal-kick problems all day long and though they sometimes looked dangerous going forward, their penetration and the final ball was lacking that cutting edge.

As for us, we were trying to stamp our obvious quality but were sometimes too impatient when having possession with the ball. As a result we were not creating that many clear-cut chances either though we did have lots of sightings on goal. Our defence struggled at times to clear our defensive lines too, with myself having a decidedly uncomfortable game. When we lost possession in our own half, we were also vulnerable to the counter-attacks.

Farhan and Omar, fielded from the start, were making a nuisance of themselves with trickery and pace while Helmi was providing his usual direct and determined runs with the ball from the centre of the field. Rahman on a few occasions got himself with sight of goal as well, darting forward to support the attack when he could. Fazli was having trouble on the left flank as he admitted later but it was a learning experience for him and also for future team selections. Rafeeq, by his own standards, was having a quiet game though.

Shafi was enjoying life as an attacking full-back combining with Fazli on the left while ably defending too while Firdaus was as solid as ever on the opposite side. I have to mention this. Firdaus is a classic example of a football player, reminded me of Shahid who could not make it this game, who doesn't need to be an exceptional talent, just so long as you are consistent and reliable week in and out to be a true asset to the team. He has been a super player ever since he joined us this year. Calvin in centre defence is one of the leaders on the field we need, which over time will hopefully allow us to truly defend well as a unit rather than as individual defenders. Wilson was also having an easy game so far, looking forward to another clean sheet.

It was midway through the 1st half when Wilson punted a long kick downfield which took a heavy touch in midfield and dropped for Farhan who continued his awesome goalscoring run in recent weeks with another fine finish.

Soon after, that led to the two waves of substitutions, all with like-for-like replacements.

One such useful change came in the form of Kelvin who was giving it a real go on the left flank often coming out best in every challenge for the ball. He was also finetuning his repertoire of passes spraying them crossfield out wide to the right where Rahman C4 and later myself, coming on for Firdaus at right-back, often taking advantage of the open space. One such opportunity brought me one-on-one with the GK but as I opted to pass it across goal, where 2 of our players waited to pounce in front of an empty net, a backtracking defender was there to clear the ball away.

Azman and Joharie, in central midfield, were also very competently linking up play with either flank while strikers Dean and Syafiq looked hungry and made themselves available when they could. Azmi was also the more stable option alongside Calvin in central defence.

We were probably the more deserving team going into half-time.

Going into the break, the mentality we adopted, which was complacency, was probably the wrong one. The rather comfortable game we have had so far, with the knowledge we have beaten this team easily before, probably led to our downfall.

Wilson (GK)

Fazli - Calvin - Akim - Firdaus Masdar

Omar - Joharie - Rahman - Shafi

Farhan - Syaifudean
Our opponents tried to give it a go and we switched off as the opponents scored to draw to the game level. Decent build-up from their left flank somehow opened up an opportunity for their tall Raffles player to shoot from outside the box into the far corner of Wilson's goal, Wilson having no chance with that shot.

But we were still dominating. Farhan and Dean gave us some muscle up front and Fazli's long throw ins as well as goal-kicks were our back-up weapons. Shafi was one benefactor from one such throw-in. Farhan meanwhile, got us all ready to roar in jubilation, but he missed a sitter from 6 yards out. Firdaus was also on target from the halfway line, turning back time to a few weeks ago at Farrer Park when he scored his 1st team goal from a similar situation.

The next waves of substitutions took place with our diminutive forwards Syafiq and Rafeeq taking the strikers' role upfront.

That did not alter the scoreline. I had a chance from range following a corner and Helmi was doing his best to drive the team forward with a number of solo runs, his determination to win was laudable, though he could perhaps taken the more patient approach and played the simple pass now and then. Rafeeq was brighter in this half and got himself on the stats sheets with a couple of shots as well. Syafiq also had a good but soft shot on the turn.

We were looking to finish off the game but our set-pieces especially from corners were not really up to the mark and led to a counter-attack by the opponents on a few occasions. Our defence found ourselves stretched at times too as we had to be wary of the pace of the opponents' offence when they had four or five men breathing down our necks but we generally did well to snuff out the threats and as mentioned at the start of this review, they were lacking that bit of quality up front.

With the heat growing unbearable by the minute, our players also suffered some minor injuries namely with Fazli, Shafi and Farhan. There was also a scare when Wilson was caught in two minds when he fumbled a throw out from his penalty box. With 2 opponents in his immediate vicinity, he was cautioned for handling the ball outside the area, the referee being lenient in part because we had enough cover at the back too.

With time running out, we brought back Farhan and Dean into the spotlight and Farhan almost clinched the winner towards the end but his header at the back post following Omar's cross was well kept out by the GK.

In the end, we were made to rue our missed chances despite our dominance in a game we should have won. Nevertheless, we are still on a good unbeaten run and still scoring too. The squad we had today was also quite balanced and necessary given the heat in the later part of the 2nd half.

Akim - Reviewer
Shyairah - Team Pictures/Videos/Debt collector
Huda - Debt collector
vidz to be uploaded soon!