Match #45 (1 Nov 08): Spurred!

match report contributed by kh.

For those who couldn't wake up to watch the pulsating north-London derby on Thursday morning that ended in an incredible 4-4 draw, today's match against XSRCNFLTR was just as adrenalin pumping. The match ended in parity but not before Marine Sunday recovered twice from 2 goals down to force the last minute equaliser to 3-3.

Despite starting the match with 2 men short, XSRCNFLTR kept possession and stroked the ball around the pitch patiently. They were clearly in an opportunistic mode, not pressing too hard forward but looking for breakthrough. The opening 5 minutes were an yawning affair until they striked. A momentarily lapse in concentration by Mike failed to track their nippy left winger, who ghosted in from the blank and beat Weng Kwan to the ball before unleashing a half volley from outside the box. Stand-in keeper, Kian Hwa got his finger tips to the ball but the feeble touch was only enough to divert the ball onto the right upright and into goal. It certainly wasn't an auspicious start for KH, who has not stand in between posts for years and his first real action was to pick the ball from the net.

Marine Sunday was stung into action but found XSRCNFLTR an even tougher nut to crack as their late arrivals made up the number. We carved up a few half chances but didn't really cause a bead of sweat to their custodian. Neither did we give them much space in our half as well, as See Chiang, Mark and Simon worked their socks off to break up their play, and Mike and Ng exerted influence in their fullback roles to add robustness in our defence. Clearly superior in techniques and movement, XSRCNFLTR threatened to breach our defence on several occasions but our defence held them at bay. However, we didn't manage to hold out before the half-time. A poorly cleared free-kick allowed their midfielder to whack in another half-volley that sailed across the box and fooled KH along the way. Just as his first piece action of the match was to pick up the ball from the net, KH's last piece of action before the 1st half ended was just as similar and miserable. 2-nil down at half-time.

Marine Sunday showed enhanced urgency as the match resumed. Brandon came in for the rusty KH. We gained upperhand in the early moments. Working to plan, we pulled a goal back. As much as he is a lazy player, Teck Wah time and again bail us out with his predatory and clinical strikes. It wasn't at all surprising that he added to his tally. A through ball found him on the right and he slotted the ball low to the keeper's left side to reduce the deficit.

The goal added spring to our strides. We countered their fluency in movements and passing with our robustness and spirit. XSRCNFLTR being what they are, they punctured our new found confidence with their 3rd goal. A ball deep into our box wasn't fully cleared by Weng Khong and their right winger pounced onto the loose ball to square to his fellow striker to tap it home.

Again we were 2 goals down but we didn't let our heads down. Ng added bite to the attack and his right-footed shot from outside the box, after cutting in from the left, saw the keeper fumbling with the ball. Our seemingly lazy-looking Teck Wah was at his most alert mode and he was the quickest to follow up to the loose ball with his left-footed volley, beating the keeper comprehensively. Again, we were just 1 goal away to force a tie.

Teck Wah almost snatched his hat trick as he beat the offside trap to receive another through ball but his intended lob over the keeper failed to materialise.

Despite having our influential Yong Chua and Mark out of play in the closing stages, Simon and Teck Chye stepped up to orchestrate our midfield with Weng Khong and Mike on the flank and Chwee Leng sportingly offered to drop back into right full back.

Teck Wah, clearly enjoying himself upfront than playing as a wide man, made space for himself on the right to receive a through pass. He had all the time in the world to tee up a cross to the far post. Simon's header forced a superb reflex save from the keeper. Just as we held our heads in disbelief by the reflex save, our anguish extinguished immediately and was replaced by ecstacy as the ball dropped into goal. The equalising goal proved to hit their raw nerves as it caused an internal strife between two XSRCNFLTR players. Whereas, Marine Sunday players were jubilant and not to be bothered by their embarassing internal scuffle. We couldn't wait for the referee to restart the game as we were clearly having the tail wind with us and riding on the crest. Sensing more volatilty in XSRCNFLTR, the referee sensibly blew for the final whistle.

3-3...a fantastic match not for the faint hearted...and certainly not the weak-spirited like XSRCNFLTR.

By the way, XSRCNFLTR stands for Ex-SRC NFL Team....Rejects. Even then, they are still much superior than us in techniques, movement, fitness but I can't say much on the teamwork and spirit aspects. Well done, Marine Sunday! Despite the half-time heated exchange among us, we carried ourselves superbly on the pitch to snatch the game away from under their nose!