Chestercity Football Club takes on Rowdees FC which saw the opponents won 3-0 in the reverse fixture at Meridian JC. City still looking for their first win of the season had only 13 players as most players are out due to work and commitments. Fred, Kim, Naufal were some of the key players out for this tie but City welcome Bob, Eddy and also loan signing Duncan and Riszuan to make up the numbers. With Din late, Mizan started between the sticks in a 4-4-2 formation which saw Indra and Aleef partnering with Xavier and Eddy taking the full back slots. In midfield, Duncan was given his debut alongside Ryan with Bob and Anon deputising in the wings. Upfront Riszuan and team manager and captain for the day Ridwan spearhead the attack.
City would want a good start and with Duncan and Anon running the show, it was almost a good advantage to City but Ridwan failed to control Duncan's excellent thru ball. Then Duncan was at it again. Ridwan made an excellent run into the box and almost found Duncan's delicate cross. City then decided to move forward, Anon was mesmerizing play down the left but City failed to captilised his hard work.
The back four was excellent as Indra and Aleef marshalled well with Eddy putting the extra boost at left back attacking and defending well.
Then after all City;s possesion, they found themselves a goal down. A stray pass to Eddy was intercept by Rowdees winger who unleashed an unstoppable shot pass Mizan. 1-0. City did not stopped there. An excellent thru ball down on the left saw Ridwan free of his marker and Anon gaping down in the penalty box, Ridwan sends a telling inviting cross which found Bob but City's top scorer can only blast it high and wide.
Duncan had a shot just over and with City threatening, Rowdees player decided wind up Bob. Their foreign import Fabio was the culprit as he elbowed Bob in an off the ball incident. Both team scuffled and trying their best to seperate the 2 players both parties subtituted both players involved in the heated argument.
Afiq comes on for him. Referee premature ends the first half.
Halftime stays at 1-0
Second half, Din replaced Mizan in goal with Riszuan making way for Bob. City pushed forward, Bob partnering Ridwan upfront where City look lively. Anon sends a wonderful cross to Ridwan but the forward failed to control it. Ridwan then again failed to captilise a great move when he failed to connect a cross from the returning Mizan.
Then City find themselves 2 down. Beating their offside trap, Rowdees cap a wonderful team move with a well taken goal. City back four then up their tempo, Indra and Aleef again stepping up their game with Eddy cancelling out every single Rowdees attack from the right. In one City swift move, Duncan releases Ridwan who beats Rowdees offside trap, turns away the right back sends a cross to Bob who controls it well but only manages to shoot over. A wasted opportunity.
City then wasted a golden opportunity, Bob returns Ridwan the favour. Dribbling the ball down the right, Bob looks up and saw Ridwan, with a low cross, Ridwan tries to get to the ball but only manages to scoop the ball straight to the keepers hand.
Rowdees then put the icing on the cake when their simplest goal of the match came when Rowdees striker taps in for their third.
Final score 3-0.
Ridwan commented, "We lost 2/3 of the team players but the players today showed we are having fun but sadly we are not the winning side. With all do respect to Rowdees, they dont deserved to win. Its a case of taking chances and they did. The players went the extra mile to win this match. I'm very pleased with Eddy. He came as a different person and he repay the faith with an outstanding performance at left back. I cant wait for the match against Sporting Olympique.'
