EPL LEAGUE
MATCH 7 - 28 FEB 15, 1500hrs@North View Secondary School (Grass Pitch)
EVERTON 4
(Nazir Khan 2, Kelvin Soh, Timothy Teo)
NEWCASTLE 5
EVERTON TEAM LINE-UP (4-4-1)
GOALKEEPER
Jalil Noor
DEFENDERS
Right-back: Md Jeffry
Left-back: Helmi Osman
Centre-back: Vincent Siow
Centre-back: Keng Wei Terk
MIDFIELDERS
Central: Lau Kok Hao
Central: Edmund Li
Right: Barry Low
Left: Nazir Khan
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER
Owen Koh
STRIKER
Simon Barker
SUBSTITUTES
Fahmy Waters
Derrick Lui
Kelvin Soh
Timothy Teo
Teo Jun Kai
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH
Nazir Khan
FIERCE HEAT SEES EQUALLY FIERY BATTLE ON THE PITCH
On a mercilessly sweltering day, two fine teams; league leaders Newcastle United and determined Everton sought to raise temperatures even further on the tarmac, with both sides going hell-for-leather in an end-to-end, explosive and sometimes fascinating game. Everton welcomed the return of Nazir Khan, and introduced a few new players from the Social League such as Edmund Li, Barry Low and Owen Koh.
Both sides were slightly nervous at the start, as they looked to settle down and compose their nerves on the rather hard and bumpy grass pitch. An innocuous long high ball around the 15th minute saw Everton 'keeper Jalil Noor unfortunately bobble it out of his grasp, allowing the foraging Newcastle attacker to glide it somewhat fortuitously to open the scoring. No blame however should be attached to Jalil, as he was really pressed into action as the hosts' 'keeper as there was no other 'keeper available.
Undaunted, Everton looked to press on and assert themselves, and the game took on an even keel as both sides roamed forward to create chances. Unfortunately, around the 25th minute, Lady Luck again smiled on the visitors when Everton captain Lau Kok Hao (who was having a sterling game in defensive midfield otherwise) unfortunately mis-directed a defensive header backwards, somewhat wrong-footing the Everton backline. Newcastle's right-sided attacker latched on to it ahead of Helmi Osman, and sent over a dangerous cross that was turned in at the back-post.
2-0 soon gave way to 3-0 as the Everton backguard were breached by a somewhat unstoppable shot from just outside the Everton penalty area. The league leaders could scarcely hide their joy. Even though 3-0, it must be said that none of the goals could be directly a fault of poor Everton defending.
The visitors looked to be coasting towards half-time but in fact the fun was just beginning.
Everton starlet Nazir Khan, playing on the left-wing, cut inside to unleash an unstoppable drive to the far corner of the net, and the game was back in the reckoning. Around 10 minutes into the second half, it was Nazir again who sped past the Newcastle backline to lob past the 'keeper, as the visitors' defence were caught on their heels again. 3-2.
However, much to the hosts' chagrin, they were caught out again by a brilliant, instinctive finish from the Magpies' left winger, who didn't need much time and space to conjure a superlative shot that gave Fahmy no chance. 4-2 and the game looked dusted. But not quite as after creating a series of chances, Everton came back again with more mayhem on the left. A cross on the left found Kelvin Soh unmarked and he made no mistake to make it 4-3.
The goals were not done yet, as an Everton clearance from a Newcastle free-kick unfortunately ricocheted in pinball land and landed just nice for the Magpies striker who tucked it home even though Fahmy got a hand to it. 5-3 now as the thrills and spills continued to roll. The fighting spirit of Everton has become famous now and true to form, substitute Tim Teo rifled in another brilliant long-shot to make it 5-4.
The last 20 minutes was truly panic stations as Everton poured everything and the kitchen sink forward in their search for a dramatic equaliser. The Newcastle defence was quite panicky and Everton managed to win a succession of free-kicks and corners. From one direct free-kick, Kelvin Soh brought out a good flying tip-save from the Newcastle custodian. The final whistle brought relief as much as celebration to the league leaders, while for Everton, they can take cold comfort from their inspired attacking crew of Owen (nippy runs), Barry (good workrate), Nazir (dribbling wizardry), Edmund (superb creative balls), Tim (nice dribbling & link-up play) and Simon (good workrate & creativity). At the end of the day, it was just slightly not enough.
