With our winter break over and a couple of friendlies under the belt, we resumed league action continues against Papalona, a team that we have not played before due to postponement. Some unexpected results between the other teams in the few weeks past and it looks like the destiny of 3rd place is in our own hands. Knowing how Papalona had fared against some of our other opponents, we were quietly confident of getting a positive result.
We had confilicting reports on the field. Some stated that it was an artificial pitch that was newly laid, while some others were sure it was a natural pitch. The only definitive conclusion was that parking was an issue and it would be a long walk from transport.
Reaching there, it was a long warm up walk to the pitch from every direction with the closest parking about a 5-7 min walk. It was also a natural pitch with the pitch lines oddly drawn. Penalty box was exceptionally small with it ending at the usual penalty spot for a normal size pitch, kickoff circle was the size of a big dining table and centre line was slightly diagonal. Maybe the school had paid lowly for part time work from the Bangledeshi construction workers at the condominium being built next door.
The mid afternoon skies threatened to blow up and bring on thunderous rain that started in the west of Singapore but luckily the weather held up. Checking the ground conditions, it must have rained very early on as the natural pitch was slightly damp with trace patches of mud. Not unplayable but we just needed to get used to it.
The majority of the team parked along the main road beside the school but it was still quite a trek to the entrance/pitch. Some even parked along Bartley road further down closer to the church and a 10 min walk. Warmly welcoming the team in Red, we had a terrace of Indian football fans watching our performance from the condo construction next door. Overall most were there by 440pm. A quick warm up followed by some kickabout to get used to the conditions, we kicked off the first half.
First Half
We applied instant high pressure from the very start and was containing the opponents in their half from the kickoff. After a passage of high pressure up the field, Harold won possesion in the opponents half and released Benny into the box. With a quick toe in, Benny managed to toe-poke the ball pass the advancing keeper. 1-0 to us. Even at this early stage, it was clear that we were the much better team.
Our pressure continued and after an interchange of passes in midfield, Harold was released down the right by Benny. A cut back in the box to Henry and the ball flashed wide of the near post he was aiming for. Any slightly touch and it would have gone to the far post and another goal.
SK at this point could have taken out his Ipad and continued his virtual digital intergalactic conquest and we were sure he was day dreaming about it as well.
The opponent got hold of a loose ball in midfield and tried a hopeful punt towards our goal. Our team looked at the floating ball in slow motion and this song from One Republic was probably playing in all our mind..particularly our keeper's. https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=SG&v=HtNS1afUOnE&hl=en-GB
"Steady hands just take the wheel
Every glance is killing me
Time to make one last appeal
For the life I live
Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be, oh.."
And so....the ball bounced in front of our keeper off the skippy grass turf and went into the top corner of our goal. :(
Enough of that. Didn't think we let that get to us too much as i'm sure we were going to come back and win the game. We continued our pressure and relentless pressing but found no breakthrough.
2nd Half
We're pretty certain the opponents half time team talk went something like this.
Opponent Captain: "They're better than us all around and we don't have enough subs. Even with effort on a soggy, tiring surface...how are we gonna get a result?"
Opponent Manager: "Keeper seems relaxed as his team are protecting him well. Saw him playing some intergalactic game on the way to pitch... maybe a bit dreamy....take a shot?"
Opponent 4 players together: "Yeah!!! Take a shot!"
Whole team chanting like zombies: "Shoot, Shoot, Shoot....."
And we're back to the kickoff for the 2nd half. Our pressure on the 2nd half continued as per our first but the opponent was just punting the ball everywhere with impunity towards our goal. But luckily our keep's got his composure and safe hands back. Making a couple of early interventions to claim the ball assuredly while other punts just went hopefully off into Row Z of the condo terraces.
We edged ahead again from a direct free kick from Ron who decided for this time to place the ball low instead of blasting it out onto Bartley road like he always does. A surprising change to us and also caught the opponent out cold as well. 2-1 up to us.
On a wet muddy pitch and controlling the ball and turning is tough and we talked about getting used to the conditions and adapting to the pitch. Perhaps with slight overconfidence, we lost a easy challenge in midfield and failed to clear, the opponent got into the box and flashed a shot pass our keeper. Unsavable this time. 2-2.
Frustration did not set in and we continued to press even harder and our peserverance eventually paid off. We won a throw in near the opponents penalty box and a long throw from Darryl was glanced in majestically by Colin who timed his jump to perfection over the opponents surrounding him who were at least a head taller. Great looping header from our Fox in the box! 3-2.
We wanted to make sure that they would be killed off and kept the pressure high up the pitch. on the 70th min, opponents were trying to play their way out from their left flank back. Yiong sensed the hesistancy and pressed hard winning the ball near their byline. He flashed his left leg against the ball and our fox was there again to tap into an empty next with the keeper stranded. Good pressure and instinct from Yiong. 4-2.
By this time, it was just wearing out the opponent and seeing if we can score another goal. Our fake angmo import had one such chance when the ball bounced across goal via a cross with all our opponents ball watching. 1 feet away from goal...he headed wide! OMG! Another One Republic moment....
The last 5 mins concluded without much on pitch incidents and we look forward to the return leg hopefully on an artificial pitch! :)
Post Game
Overall a good result and we could have done much better. Some lapses of concentration but we came through and got the result we needed. A small break again before our league resumes and lets keep our fitness and ball sense around and go on to claim 3rd in the league for ourselves in our first season ever which we feel would be a good overall result for our initial foray into the competitive arena of league games.
Our MOM for this week goes to Colin who made the difference with his majestic header to get us ahead again and opportunistic goal scoring. We don't need luck, we just need to make more of it ourselves! Congrats Colin and well done team.
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