Match #8 (27 Feb 11): We Hit The Blues.

The small pitch and the younger, hungrier opponent took the rhythm away from our play. Despite the scrappy performance, we still carved out enough chances to win the match but we just lacked the clinical finishing. Whereas the Blues had only 3 chances at goal, including 1 from the spot, and they converted 2 into goals to win the match 2-1. Their keeper produced a couple of reflex saves to keep us at bay. Teck Wah's equalising goal restored the hope in us to turn the tide but we then gave away a cheap penalty to gift the match to them.

Match #7 (20 Feb 11): A Composed 4-2 Win Over Eusoffianos

The last time we met Eusoffianos, comprising ex-Eusoff Hall hostelites who are in their late 20s, was in June 2010. Then it was a hard-earned 2-1 win, now it was just as tough, though we doubled both the goals scored and conceded. It was another entertaining match with both sides seizing their first goal through some classy first-time volleys. Eusoffianos' chief striker No 25 opened the account with a venomous volley but Simon restored parity with a sublime one from outside the box. The introduction of Kama added dynamism to our play and he exchanged a couple of one-two with Teck Wah before breaking free into the box to put us in the lead, 2-1. A moment of misjudgement at our backline allowed them to sneak in with an equalising goal but Teck Wah punished their rearguard for not playing to the whistle by walloping the loose ball in a goalmouth melee to put us 3-2 at the break.

There is some cause for apprehension in the opening 15 mins of the 2nd half, as we had conceded goals and surrendered leads before. Not this time as we reversed the trend. A well-worked breakaway found Gan free on the right but his shot came off the bar and Simon followed up with a delicate chip from outside the box to settle the issue.

4-2 final score. At the sideline, a few of their players were surprised that they had just played against a bunch of mostly 40-something, beer-guzzling uncles :)

Match #6 (13 Feb 11): A Frustrating Draw With Gaza

Just like Liverpool was frustratingly held to a 1-1 draw by Wigan, we had to agonisingly settle for a 2-2 draw with Gaza. To Gaza's credit, they led twice but we had enough chances to wipe them off. It was an entertaining match with both keepers pulling off stunning saves. Yong Chua stamped his class with 2 well-taken goals - first through awareness of positioning and 2nd through sheer determination, at the expense of his knees.

Match #5 (5 Feb 11): Comeback win over Rosso

CNY's feasting had gotten the better of us. Within the 1st minute, a poor giveaway presented Rosso FC with the 1st crack at our goal that had Brandon fully stretched to divert the ball away for corner. It wasn't surprising that the match was only barely 5-minutes old that Rosso snatched the lead, again courtesy of our tentative defending that must have resulted from the CNY feasting.

Mike had the finest opportunity to equalise for us but he thought he was playing golf, taking the world of his time to tee up a shot in the box before he allowed UK to send the naval troops across the Atlantic to reach Falklands Island to nullify him, if ever a threat. We were not to be denied of our well-deserved equaliser. Teck Wah had his half-volley well blocked but Yong Chua followed up to make sure the ball landed in the net.

1-1 at half time but Rosso seized the lead again within the opening minutes of the 2nd half. A graceful ballet-like clearance by Chwee Leng set up their right-winger nicely and he cut in with his pace to place a low shot beating Brandon at the near post. 1-2.

YC robbed the ball off their stopper and set up Teck Chye for our equalising goal and moments later, the scorer himself turned his marker smartly and let fly a sweet left-footer shot 30 meters out that beat the keeper flat. 3-2. Before that, Rosso's custodian had to be alert to palm away another long-range shot from Teck Chye.

The last 5-minutes' pairing of Teck Wah-Chwee Leng upfront yielded positive returns when Chwee Leng sent in a diagonal pass that evaded Rosso's entire defence. Teck Wah took the ball down nicely and hit a stiffer that ricocheted off Rosso's last man for an own goal, leaving their keeper scrambling for thin air.

4-2 and Rosso asked for re-match....if we are up for it. Are we?