match report contributed by kh
Based on the 2-0 win over Gombak Rangers on 15 June, when we had just 11 players, empirical evidence indicated that KH was not the jinx of Marine Sunday after all. That kink in the armour seems to surface whenever we have more than enough players, and that is when the number of substitutions causes us to lose the shape as the play progresses.
In yesterday’s match, we played more compactly, sensibly and cohesively, mindful of the fact that we had no luxury of extra legs on the sideline. What made yesterday’s result even sweeter was that we started the match with 10 men (our venerable Ng must have been held up by his nocturnal escape the night before) and played the last 30 minutes of the match with the same number, when the (nowadays) injury-prone KH could not carry on with his strained back and had to retire 15 minutes into the 2nd half. By then, Marine Sunday were good and deservedly 2-0 up, with KH providing assists in both goals.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, we stayed resilient against the incessant onslaught from GR, frustrating their attacks with our outstanding safe pair of hands in Seah, the superb resolute defending led by Chor Guan and Hock Leong, and intelligent pace of play dictated by Simon and Teck Chye in the middle of the park. In the midst of adversity, we launched counter-attacks to perfection and found space to breach their defence and we could have notched up another couple of goals. Whilst GR lacked a razor-sharp front man to convert those chances they carved up, their custodian kept the score line to a respectable level with a series of top-notch saves and quick off-the-line clearances.
The match started with both sides adopting a cautious approach and both defences breaking up each other’s offensive moves with relative ease. The dull affair was abruptly punctured by a somewhat fortuitous decision by the tentative referee, who firstly and correctly did not deem Teck Chye offside but secondly failed to spot a handball by the latter as he trapped a through ball from Kian Hwa. As the entire GR defence stood furious, Teck Chye minded his own business and beat the stranded GR custodian on the 2nd attempt, after the keeper had parried former’s initial shot back to him. The infuriated GR surrounded the man in black as Marine Sunday celebrated the fortunate breakthrough.
GR keeper then produced a top-class tip-over to deny Gan’s stinging shot after the latter was put through by Teck Chye. Mike then produced a superb solo effort, beating a couple of defenders on the flank to get into box, only for his final square pass to be intercepted by a defender’s stretched leg to deny the ball reaching Gan. The 1st half finished 1-0.
As the match resumed, GR hardly got into the thick of action and conceded the 2nd goal. An intelligent move involving KH, with his movement visibly restricted by his strained back, and Teck Chye, with his fluidity throughout the match, set the former free on the right. KH’s immediate cross was met by Gan who finished off with much aplomb; a power-packed first-timer that left the GR keeper rooted. If our first goal was contentious, the 2nd goal stamped class in both the movement and conversion.
Much to GR’s credit, they continued to play patient football and slowly assumed possession of the play. As Marine Sunday looked sharp in the offensive, the defensive line was just as alert to close down the space. Seah showed what a top-class keeper he is when he tipped a long-range goal bound effort over the bar for a corner. The GR players were about to raise their hands in jubilation, anticipating a certain goal, but with Seah’s acrobatic save, they could only watch in dismay.
With his teammates trying to restrain KH and not to aggravate his injury, he could not resist the smell of blood like a bloodhound on the loose and continued to get into space time after time. He and Teck Chye combined again with devastating effect as the latter threaded another defence-splitting through pass to pick out the former, who rounded the keeper but his long overdue goal was denied by a last-ditch clearance on the line as the defenders recovered in time to prevent further damage. That signaled the last meaningful contribution by KH as he had to leave the pitch shortly after.
With 1 man down, we sat back to absorb the play. Counter-attack became our focus and we could have gotten more, if not because of their Petr Cech. As GR were found wanting upfront with all those opportunities squandered away, they were at least thankful to their keeper. He denied both Teck Chye’s and See Chiang’s efforts with flying saves, then showed great positional sense to prevent Simon from capitalizing on another one-on-one opportunity.
The entertaining match ended with a 2-0 win for Marine Sunday.
In yesterday’s match, we played more compactly, sensibly and cohesively, mindful of the fact that we had no luxury of extra legs on the sideline. What made yesterday’s result even sweeter was that we started the match with 10 men (our venerable Ng must have been held up by his nocturnal escape the night before) and played the last 30 minutes of the match with the same number, when the (nowadays) injury-prone KH could not carry on with his strained back and had to retire 15 minutes into the 2nd half. By then, Marine Sunday were good and deservedly 2-0 up, with KH providing assists in both goals.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, we stayed resilient against the incessant onslaught from GR, frustrating their attacks with our outstanding safe pair of hands in Seah, the superb resolute defending led by Chor Guan and Hock Leong, and intelligent pace of play dictated by Simon and Teck Chye in the middle of the park. In the midst of adversity, we launched counter-attacks to perfection and found space to breach their defence and we could have notched up another couple of goals. Whilst GR lacked a razor-sharp front man to convert those chances they carved up, their custodian kept the score line to a respectable level with a series of top-notch saves and quick off-the-line clearances.
The match started with both sides adopting a cautious approach and both defences breaking up each other’s offensive moves with relative ease. The dull affair was abruptly punctured by a somewhat fortuitous decision by the tentative referee, who firstly and correctly did not deem Teck Chye offside but secondly failed to spot a handball by the latter as he trapped a through ball from Kian Hwa. As the entire GR defence stood furious, Teck Chye minded his own business and beat the stranded GR custodian on the 2nd attempt, after the keeper had parried former’s initial shot back to him. The infuriated GR surrounded the man in black as Marine Sunday celebrated the fortunate breakthrough.
GR keeper then produced a top-class tip-over to deny Gan’s stinging shot after the latter was put through by Teck Chye. Mike then produced a superb solo effort, beating a couple of defenders on the flank to get into box, only for his final square pass to be intercepted by a defender’s stretched leg to deny the ball reaching Gan. The 1st half finished 1-0.
As the match resumed, GR hardly got into the thick of action and conceded the 2nd goal. An intelligent move involving KH, with his movement visibly restricted by his strained back, and Teck Chye, with his fluidity throughout the match, set the former free on the right. KH’s immediate cross was met by Gan who finished off with much aplomb; a power-packed first-timer that left the GR keeper rooted. If our first goal was contentious, the 2nd goal stamped class in both the movement and conversion.
Much to GR’s credit, they continued to play patient football and slowly assumed possession of the play. As Marine Sunday looked sharp in the offensive, the defensive line was just as alert to close down the space. Seah showed what a top-class keeper he is when he tipped a long-range goal bound effort over the bar for a corner. The GR players were about to raise their hands in jubilation, anticipating a certain goal, but with Seah’s acrobatic save, they could only watch in dismay.
With his teammates trying to restrain KH and not to aggravate his injury, he could not resist the smell of blood like a bloodhound on the loose and continued to get into space time after time. He and Teck Chye combined again with devastating effect as the latter threaded another defence-splitting through pass to pick out the former, who rounded the keeper but his long overdue goal was denied by a last-ditch clearance on the line as the defenders recovered in time to prevent further damage. That signaled the last meaningful contribution by KH as he had to leave the pitch shortly after.
With 1 man down, we sat back to absorb the play. Counter-attack became our focus and we could have gotten more, if not because of their Petr Cech. As GR were found wanting upfront with all those opportunities squandered away, they were at least thankful to their keeper. He denied both Teck Chye’s and See Chiang’s efforts with flying saves, then showed great positional sense to prevent Simon from capitalizing on another one-on-one opportunity.
The entertaining match ended with a 2-0 win for Marine Sunday.
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