Red Knights came strolling in and the players all seem to be one size bigger than us. could this benefit us in a 3pm match under the burning sun? yet all pre-conceived notions were thrown to the wind when the match started. individually, these guys are good ball players and even the seemingly obese fellas kept the ball darn well. then why did we end up in 7th Heaven and they went down the 7 gates of hell? perhaps the difference lie in the way the match is played by both teams. Red Knights tried too hard individually and as a team were worn out by half time. we attempted to involve more players in our moves, allowing the ball do the work, making our passes and chances count. that brings to mind an article that chiang gave us some time ago on keeping the game simple. keep it up guys!
for more of the goals, kh has kindly agreed to write an account. watch this space.
for more of the goals, kh has kindly agreed to write an account. watch this space.
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Match report contributed by KH:
Red Knights was at the wrong end of the stick and must be wondering why they were at such a receiving end from Marine Sunday, which were all set to respond to last week’s unfinished job with an intent. Not only did we chalk up a win but it was a bountiful harvest of low-hanging fruits as we ran havoc with a 7-0 score line.
Though understood to hurriedly assemble for the match, you couldn’t say that RK was a bunch of motley crew. Individually, they were technically sound but the lack of team work, understanding and fitness gave rise to a team very much akin to a skyscraper standing on mangrove swamp. It was proven right as we rolled over them in the 2nd half after a pretty much evenly contested 1st half. We even indulged in a bit of luxury by pushing Chor Guan upfront as a striker when we were comfortably leading. No, it wasn’t meant to belittle them or be condescending on our part. Rather, it was a gesture to relieve, if you will, him of the burden for executing the thankless sweeper role and let him soak in the joy of scoring. And he didn’t disappoint us with a brace of goals to his credit.
RK had the 1st attempt at our goal within 3 minutes of kick-off when the skilful left-winger whipped in a shot from 30m out but Seah kept his focus on the ball and collected it without breaking a sweat. We looked too hurried in our passing and kept losing the ball just outside their penalty box, whereas RK looked assured and collected in their passing and use their body to shield the ball effectively.
If we had been accused of being disrespectful for fielding our last man as a striker in the closing stage of the match, we must have been inspired by their last man. Out of the blue, he launched a solo crusade, sweeping down the left flank into the box with apparent ease before a mistimed tackle by Weng Kwan brought him down at the bye line. Their left winger stepped up to the spot but our Seah also stepped up to be counted as he got down on his right to smother the weak attempt. Second successive penalty save in just as many matches. Not far off from Pepe Reina’s reputation, you must say. Hock Leong led the war cry “C’mon guys, keeper did his job. Let’s do ours!” Gosh, sure we did.
Their last man turned from hero to zero in just a couple of minutes. KH latched onto a high ball and was just 1 step faster than the last man in the box. The latter’s late leg caught KH, and the referee pointed to the spot again. Chor Guan demonstrated how to convert it, simply and sweetly. 1-0!
We were controversially denied of another legitimately looking penalty as Leo was tripped from behind in the box. Much to our dismay, the referee brushed aside the claim. Simon, seemingly incensed by the decision, took the matter into his own hand. Charging a poorly cleared ball into the box, he was again tripped but refusing to trust the referee now, he balanced himself and toe-poked the ball past the keeper. As the ball was trickling slowly towards goal, Simon was the only one following up to whack the ball into the net, just to make his point felt. 2-0!
More attacks followed but we kept throwing the chances away either through unnecessary ball-holding by Gan or hasty crosses by KH.
The match resumed with us exploiting the space at the back and on the flanks as we expected them to tire. With Lakesh spraying the ball like what Glenn Hoddle used to do, we were literally opening cans of sardines with a razor sharp can opener! But KH continued with his wayward crosses from the left, though he attributed the miscued crosses to his dislocated left jaw suffered in the last match against Techwood.
Just like what Clichy did for Hleb, who ran onto Clichy’s through ball that resulted in Arsenal’s winning goal against Bolton last Sat, Ng threaded a through ball in between 2 defenders. KH beat the offside line with his typical run from the blind and charged the through ball towards goal. With a defender closing him down, KH placed the ball past the keeper to the lower right hand corner of the goal. 3-0. But KH followed up with the miss of the season when Mike’s hardwork on the right flank presented the former with the open goal at his mercy. Instead, KH did a Johnny Wilkinson. How on earth did he scoop the ball 2 storey high over the bar?
Chwee Leng then replaced KH and duly contributed to the 4th goal as he latched onto another long ball from Lak on the right. Leng’s weighted cross to the far post was met by the charging See Chiang, whose header planted the ball firmly into the goal for our No 4.
By now, we were flying down the flanks without meeting any resistance. See Chiang’s good work on the wide left put the ball low into the box. Leo’s 2nd bite at the cherry broke the duck for his 1st goal of the season after his 1st attempt was blocked by the defender. Goal No 5 and we were still counting.
By now, Chor Guan was deployed upfront and his killer instinct was apparent. Another long ball by Lak released Mike on the left. He crossed with the outside of his right foot. Red Knights’ keeper fumbled with the cross and Chor Guan accepted the invitation to put the loose ball into the net. Half-a-dozen and on the way to 7th Heaven! And Mike signed it off with his richly deserved goal. By now, Red Knights simply gave up chasing. Another through ball allowed Mike to advance well into the box. He looked somewhat impeded from behind at his attempt at goal but he steadied himself to place the ball past the stranded keeper. Amazing 7!
We were still chasing the number and RK almost obliged us with an own goal as the defender deflected KH’s cross from the right past their off-position keeper. Luckily, the deflected ball steered away from the far post and the keeper recovered to collect the ball in time before Chwee Leng pounced on it.
The referee then ended the match on the 40th minute mark, apparently out of humanity. We couldn’t go further but we kept a clean sheet! We are a bunch of average Joe but collectively, we certainly displayed more cohesion!
See Chiang's was playing like Ryan Giggs for this game...seem to waltz past the opponent with ease everytime he pushed thru the left.
Hopefully Seah is Pepe Reina for saving penalties but not Pepe Reina for fumbling crosses
You forgot to mention that Hock Leong was so bored with the lack of attacking threat from RK that he fell asleep halfway when turning with the ball and face first flat onto the ground :)
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