Spirited But Not Quite Enough

Woodlands Sec, 1500 Hrs

YSOSRS 2  Retador 4 

(Nigel x2)

Facing up against runaway leaders Retador, who were a perfect 7 out of 7 having scored 28 goals and only shipping 1 in the process pre game, meant that us Jokers strolled into Woodlands Sec with an air of anxiety within our camp. 

Well, we got close when we equalised early in the 1st half through new boy Nigel. And then pulled it back to 2-3 with 15 mins to go. Truth be told, our best spell in the 2nd half meant that we were more than a match for our illustrious opponents yet it wasn't meant to be. Naiveté in our play meant that we were punished at every opportunity Retador had. 4 goals that we arguably could have done better with but Retador being them, were clinical as hell. 

Having only played 2 games in comparison to the numerous the rest of the teams have played, yet we are now a whopping 23 points behind the front runner. Most definitely does not make for good reading but hell, one game at a time. Adios amigos~

Banana Skin Avoided in Cup Victory

St Wilfred Complex, 1500 Hrs

YSOSRS 3 Etoile 0

(Izwann x2, Santosh)

The plan was for back to back games with the biggie against Team Intense on Saturday and Etoile FC in the cup on Sunday. As fate would have it, our biggie was postponed due to the incessant downpour faced by our tiny island all weekend long. Thank god for the extra hours to sleep in. Yesaah.

Onwards to a Sunday that was also persistently pelted with rain all day long yet it was still very much game on. A squad with a whole host of regulars unavailable as we were playing on our unfamiliar day of the weekend. Booooo.

Anyhow, decked out in blue were the boys of Etoile FC and they were certainly all set and ready to go by 3pm. As for the pinkies, we had latecomers (gaffer included), streaming in hurriedly with socks pulled up on one but not the other side. Story of a lazy team now indeed.

1-0: Plenty of prompting and hustling in the middle of the pitch to no avail. Yet the signs were there for the jokers who continuously knocked on the french team's door. Fortunately, our stylish forward provided us with the impetus to win the game by opening the scoring. Nicking the ball off a slow to react defender, cockroach (I was told never to use it again but who cares.. Heh) man showed some epic shuffles in the box to find space from a tight angle and prod the ball past the stranded keeper. Golaazzzoooo.

HT as the pinkies go in a goal to the goood. Always a dangerous lead though with Etoile FC hodling a 0.5 goal handicap by virtue of their supposed lower divisional status. Aiyo.

2-0: Any nerves were firmly but to bed when Ubai decides to bend-it-like-bai with a stupendous inswinging cross from the left that had goal written all over it. As scripted, Izwann rose high above his marker and in slow motion fashion thumped a header from 6 yards into the back of the net. 55th minute and the pink rangers were producing a decent business like performance. 

3-0: Frustrated but not flustered with his few sightings on the opposing goal, our nepalese monster got in on the act as he showcased his new found outside foot shot once again. For those who didnt know, it was similar to the one that hit the bar against Classique in the semis n Law subsequently went on to thump it home. Well this time it found all net and it was even further out from the last one. Oh so brilliant. 

So as it is, everyone got themselves a fair share of game time and a nice little afternoon's session of footie. Aside from the missed one on ones and the missing Mikasa ball (FUCK), it was a sweet little day for them Jokers.

Onwards to next Saturday yo!

Same O' Same Old

Springfield Sec, 1500 Hrs

YSOSRS 2  Eclectico 2

(Law, Mahdi)

No report. 

Season 11 League Game 1

Time: Be there latest by 2:30 PM [Keep up the punctuality lads]

Opponents: Eclectico FC

[Link: http://www.espzen.com/teamsdiv.asp?leagueNo=110&teamNo=750]

Venue: Springfield Sec (Astro)

[Link to venue: http://www.espzen.com/pitches.asp?id=77]

Attire: Pink Top, Black Shorts, Black Socks

Expected Personnel:

Edmund

Eric Farhan Ashwin(T)Khai Hafiz Eugene 

Hafeez Fiq Ws

Ron AhCool Ubai Nigel Law

Mahdi Shija(T) 

Of Cockroaches, Monsters and Quite Simply Just An Epic Team Effort

*All in a days work

1st Toa Payoh Sec, 1500 Hrs

YSOSRS FC 5   Classique Futbol Clube 3

(AhCool x1, Law x1, Izwann x3) 

Gathering at the 1st Toa Payoh pitch again for the 3rd week running (getting sick of the place yo), the pinkies were geared up and ready for a semi final match up against a reputable side in Classique. Possessing players with experience at the NFL level and higher, the pinkies were up against it. Yet on a day which much went our way, the hot as hell weather, the lack of numbers for our opponents and our huge squad for the day meant that we held a slim advantage as the game kicked off. I have to add that the amazing sight of at least 12 of our lads getting prepped whilst having a light hearted talk cock session in the dressing room by 230pm made for a pleasant surprise. Oooh yeah.

To the game!

1-0: Hardly any time had passed when we nicked the opening goal. Yours truly was busy at the side being the ball man by pumping the friggin balls and thus all I saw was AhCool seeing a bounce in the opposing penalty box fall his way. Time and men around him stood still as he steadied himself, before calmly slotting it home under the keepers despairing dive. Weird circumstances leading up to the goal for everyone seemingly stopped. 

1-1: A ball over the top by Classique caught our tiring defense out and a clumsy challenge meant a penalty was awarded. This was duly dispatched.

1-2: Continuing our increasingly lacklustre performance at this stage, our midfield parted allowing for the Classique dazzlers to dance their way and beat our offside trap with consummate ease. Whim bam boom. And all of a sudden we were down despite looking comfortable for most parts of the half. HT.

As usual, the talk to the band of brothers was to be smarter with our play in the hope that we would wear our opponents down as time ticked.

1-3: Yet that advise was not entirely heeded for we conceded yet another penalty when a lunge was committed and the Classique man went over. A quite delightfully deceptive PK was carried out by the former pro (?) and apparent footie freestylist (Thats what I heard). We looked to be heading out at this point with our tails between our legs yo as 15 minutes or so of the game remained.

The defining moment soon came when upon changing to a 3-5-2 formation, we were caught on the counter and only a epic late block by man mountain at the back, Hafiz saw us keep it at 1-3.



2-3: Bend-it-like-ubai swung a peach of a corner that was met powerfully by the head of our returning cockroach. The ball nestled in the back of the net to the delight of the pinkies. Morale boost beeches...

3-3: 2 minutes later, it was all square. An audacious, outrageous outside foot shot by the Nepalese monster saw it tipped acrobatically against the bar by the cute afro keeper. The rebound was pounced on by our now I-will-score-every-game Law who left footed it, then right footed it and then right footed it into the back of the net. That sequence had my balls drop to the ground and back where to where it belongs. Worry not ladies. ;) 



4-3: As we went from strength to strength, cockroach man finally got the ball from our Nepalese monster after a million cries for it. He beat 2 men with his maddening pace before slamming the ball into the top corner with only minutes to go. Cue chicken dance celebrations from the cockroach. A weird sight for those who do not know. 

5-3: We have to talk about yet another epic sliding block challenge from AhCool that kept out a certain goal from Classique as only minutes remained. 4-4 that would have been as penalty shootouts loomed. A game breaking moment most certainly. And.... 
Up we went the other side when our own magician dazzled by a challenge before taking out another man with a simple through pass to our Nepalese monster. The eventual shot was well parried but on hand to bring home his turkey for the day was... Our cockroach man to tap it home and seal an epic clash. 

All in all, a brilliant game for us but it was so finely poised that it could have been so very different. Luck and team spirit played a huge part today. Couldn't be any more proud of my charges as the kickoff to our season is almost upon us.

Onwards to the finals!!



Team:
Khai

Farhan Eric Ismail Hafiz Isk Eugene

Ws Syafiq Hafeez

Izwann AhCool Ubai Mok Law Santosh

Dinie Habib

EspZen Community Plate Semi Finals

Time: Be there latest by 2:30 PM

Opponents: Classique Futbol Clube

[Link: http://www.espzen.com/teams.asp?teamno=839&leagueNo=100]

Venue: 1st Toa Payoh Sec (Astro)

[Link to venue: http://www.espzen.com/pitches.asp?id=36]

Attire: Pink Top, Black Shorts, Black Socks

Expected Personnel:

Khai

Eric Farhan Isk Ismail Hafiz Eugene 

Hafeez Fiq Ws

Izwann AhCool Mok Ubai Law

Habib Dinie