This is a game Man U4U need to win to keep up with NUFCSG's form at the top with 2 points lead.
The game played under a sunny but a windy late afternoon. The last time these two teams met, U4U cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win.
This time round with Norman & Ronnie back in the starting places but without Kelvin Soh, Barry, Owen, Edmund & Nazir in their lineup. Manager Fahmy introduced young debutant Haiqal into the starting eleven as well. This after a spark of bright display from SESC in their last game against NUFC SG which fought to the wire but lost marginally.
Match got off to a comfortable pace for both teams trying to settle into their game. U4U tried a variation of moves to try and test SESC midfield and backline early but without much success.
However a throw ball played by one of their central midfielders found their striker's path just ahead of Vincent. SESC custodian, Ronnie dashed out and looked to be favourite to get to the ball first but as it was too close to the outside of the box, he did not take the risk to catch it so opted to clear it. This time, the U4U striker had the pace to also closed in to prevent that. The ball did deflect off him and to SESC's misfortune, it landed nicely for their advancing wide midfielder to hook the ball into the unguarded net, 1-0 U4U.
SESC then tried to push forward with some up and under but many were well swept away by the U4U defence.
In about 10 minuters later, U4U got lucky again and this time a defensive miscommunication between Vincent & Ronnie which both let the ball run thinking either one would clear it. The ball ran nicely into the advancing U4U forward Ahmad to put it into the empty net, 2-0 U4U.
Things could not get any worse in the next 10 minutes as a hooked shot from their creative wide man looking to chip over Ronnie but the SESC custodian could only parry it to the side. Unfortunately it landed on the path of their winger on the other side, Jeff who shot it powerfully just beyond the reach of Ronnie, 3-0 U4U.
Not long after the ref blew for halftime which was much needed for Team SESC.
The gaffer introduced 4 changes to the team in hope to shake up the team-play.
The game restarted and the changes for Team SESC seemed to work as they took the game to U4U with several purposeful balls for a good 10-15 minutes.
At the 49th minute mark, big man Norman took a free kick from just outside of the box driving the ball low and hard but it was blocked by the U4U wall.
To Norman's luck, the ball came back nicely for him to drill it into the net with Jeffry decoying their backline that made everyone in red ball watching, the deficit reduced to 3-1.
Not long after, another freekick from further out was taken by Norman and his shot hits the upright and to the U4U custodian fortune the ball ricocheted nicely into his arm.
SESC then had another chance after a through ball played by Wenkang found Khoo Tian freed with a defender not favoured to get to the ball. However due to the pace of the ball, Khoo Tian skied his effort with just 10 yards away from goal with only the keeper to beat.
At around the 70th minute mark, U4U squandered a chance to restore their 3-goal lead as a through ball looked to be played too far for their striker and Ronnie was first to it but his clearance hit the onrushing striker hard and mysteriously landed nicely on his path to an empty net. This was a moment when everyone at the venue would expect him to tuck it home or even walked the ball into the net. To his own astonishment, he sliced the ball at the time when he pulled the trigger to hit the ball, it rolled into the side netting instead. The poor boy must have hoped that he could bury his head into the ground but his teammates gave him huge words of encouragement following that.
That seemed to give U4U the nitro to go for their 4th goal and it actually came against the run of play; a short pass from Ronnie played to Simon via Giles. Simon found Tim but his touches let him down and U4U wide midfielder wasted no time to pass it to Jeff who dribble across the goal with the ball and shot it hard and low into the bottom corner, way out of Ronnie's reach who did not bother to dive to it.
The game ended with luck definitely not on SESC's side but the referee has been one of the positive sight for this league especially with recent controversies and questioning over their officials.
U4U management voted Giles as the outstanding player of the game for SESC side.
Team SESC must now focus on rebuilding the team's confidence before their next game which is their Merseyside rival, Liverpool FC SG.
