Sunscreen please!

Meridian JC, 1500 Hrs

SUFI FC 2 Dynamites 0

(Juf x1, Syafiq x1)

And so we return to the field where we successfully overcame a VNNTU side a month or so back in the cup tournament. Stunning field as always however this time round, the heat from the afternoon sun was terrifying. I believe it definitely sapped a considerable amount of energy from the guys before the kick off had even came along.

Well, 3 points was once again the primary objective of the day however we had to contend with having the smallest match day squad in a long while. Whatever the case, we started the game cautiously and slowly to some extent. What we did right was to keep it extremely compact and tight thus allowing us to gradually build up momentum without giving ourselves a deficit to overcome. Defensively, we were excellent on the day.

The 1st half was pretty much hit and miss as both sides laboured under the afternoon sun. There were calls for a red card when rudee was brought down by the opposing keeper after having pushed the ball pass him and with the goal gaping. Amazing that the colour of the card flashed was only a dirty fella. O wells. This was replicated in the 2nd half when law was brought down by the last men having raced past him convincingly. Once again, as per the order of the day... The ref played it sensibly. Sometimes i wish there would be more consistency between match day refs as the one we had in the last game sent off 2 guys for having a friendly nudge at each other. Crap.

Anyways, it finished 0-0 at half time although it must be said that our opponents were beginning to sit deep and to try and hit us on the break.

In the 2nd, we finally obtained the much craved-for breakthrough when a long ball by mok found a rejuvenated law hunting it down at pace. The opposing keeper had a bathez-like moment when he dashed off his line to intercept the ball. Both men ended up reaching it at around the same time but somehow the loose ball was pounced on by a lurking wong who instinctively passed it to our top marksmen and from someway out, he sidefooted into an empty net with the keeper stranded in no man's land. Lucky perhaps, but it all counts. The sequence of events leading up the goal tethered on hilarious though.

After much hustling and cramping from both sets of players, the game was finally sealed with a contender for goal of the season. Some good work by wong down the left saw him cut in field before releasing del syafiqo just outside the D area. Spurred on by shouts of 'shoot ar!'... The lanky man wrapped his foot around the ball and delivered a stunning shot that curled and swerved all the way. It must be said that it did help that the keeper played his part with a despairing dive. Sweet goal by the man. Top corner goals can never be argued against.

MOTM: Wong almost didn't get the nod not because of his performance on the field but rather cause of his self-praise after the game off it. It was a real pain listening to that at times. Damn dude! Haha, thank god his assists and overall contribution on the day overshadowed that.

To the guys who played today, good workman like performance and we got the result we wanted at the end of the day. See you folks tomorrow if not next week at Si Ling Sec. Cheers!