Chestercity lost their first pre-season friendly 5-0 to 1st Division team, Gabrielite Remix FC at Woodlands Secondary School. The scorching sun did not stop the player’s enthusiasm battling the game with pride.
Chestercity start the game brightly with some eye catching performances from all departments.
The lads pressured the Remixes defence but their goalkeeper was on form putting a couple of saves one which denied Izzat Hashim a tap in goal. With City pressing on, Gabrielite drew first blood. They took the lead when their striker was through on goal and place and easy tame shot past the onrushing Safiuddin. 1-0 to Remix. Sweeper Afizan was then caught by the trailing leg of the Remix’s defender and City’s Coach was fuming when he has to replace the latter thru injury and reorganized his defence. That proves a setback as Afizan’s marshalling was sorely missed when Remix extend their lead to 4 goals before halftime after 3 defensive mishap by City’s defence. Half Time score: 4-0 to Gabrielite.
Second half, a couple of changes saw the City finally regained their confidence and not let the scoreline put them off. They pressed searching for goals and was brightten up when City’s coach decided to play an unfamiliar attacking 3-4-1-2 formation with Izzat Hashim playing in the hole behind Aizam with Airul upfront. It nearly paid off when City was awarded a freekick just outside the penalty box. Up steps Izzat Hashim, he bends over the wall but his shot rattles the crossbar. Airul was then at the centre of attention when the temperamental player barge against Remix’s goalie. He was then yellow carded by the referee. City then were 5-0 down when their striker volleys home past City’s substitute goalkeeper Eizzul. The match ended 5-0.
City’s coach commented,”We should not have conceded the way we did today. But no matter what, I’m pleased with the boys’ performance and am looking forward to the next pre-season friendly. Players are young and determined to do well and I hope with the current season looming, they can prove the other teams that they too could play. We should have lost only 2-0 but luck was not on our side. I need to brush up my defence if we are to stand a chance in the upcoming league but overall, it was a 9/10 performance by my lads.”
First XI:
Safiuddin, Justin, Rohaizad, Afizan, Syaikhan, Ruzaini, Faizal, Charles, Aizam, Izzat, Airul
Subtitutes:
Eizzul, Xavier, Jelson, Sopian, Guna, Amirul, Hakym, Elfie, Ysaac, Irfan,
Yellow:
Rohaizad, Airul, Ruzaini
Red: None
Goal: None
Assist: None
Man of the Match: (10) Airul Zahrin
