Match #50 (22 Dec 2013): We Weren't Perfect, Just Simply Effective

Perfect rued their missed scoring chances again. They crafted enough opportunities to turn this match into a badminton scoreline but instead, they had to settle for another agonising defeat against us. The 5-2 win looked flattering to us, compared to the first encounter of a narrow 2-1 win, but we deserved it, no less. We were simply effective, converted our chances well.

KH was lively in the opening encounter, putting in a few crosses into the box but posed no threat to Perfect. Then, a miscued cross had Perfect's keeper flapping to push the ball against the bar and Mike followed up to put the ball into the open goal. Mike then notched his 2nd goal after he turned well to meet a throw-in from the right and instantly produced a first-time volley. Our next 2 goals came from Teck Chye and as a result, he topped the goal-scoring chart for the 2013 season, breaking the stronghold of his younger brother who has been topping the chart for the past we-lost-count-how-many seasons. He first produced an exquisite free-kick that gave Perfect's keeper no chance. Then he intercepted a sloppy pass from Perfect's not-so-perfect last man and went on to beat the keeper with relative ease. 4-0 at the break and we seemed to be cruising. In between our goals, Perfect carved a few good scoring opportunities but their less-than-perfect conversion let themselves down.

Perfect came out livelier in the 2nd half, pinning us in our half but a quick breakaway resulted in our 5th goal. Chor Guan capped a fine season, having scored in the first match of the season, with our final goal of the season, our 209th. Gan picked Chor Guan out with a pinpoint pass after Chor Guan had galloped from the rear to beat Perfect's high defence line. Chor Guan recovered from his initial tumble to put the ball into the net.

We ran out of steam and Perfect's younger players took full advantage of our lack of pace and stamina, after all most of us just came back from vacation of feasting and putting on weight. They produced 2 consolation goals and were so unlucky to have missed a handful of cutting edge chances.

We proved to be effective and that won us the match, 5-2!

Match #48 (1 Dec 2013): Spirited display but we lost on just the odd key moments

For sake of reference, opponents wearing white top with red hoops shall be called QPR. Comprising a fine mix of old and young, they are a team very confident on the ball. Their early composure helped them to a two goal lead though we had created more chances. Then we had a lampardesque moment when our scorcher from way outside the box left the keeper completely rooted, crashed against the underside of the bar, crossed the line and spinned back towards the grateful arms of the keeper.

The cruel decision not to award the clear goal at that stage meant we had to summoned the renown MS spirit for the second half. Pressing like footballers possessed, we subdued QPR with pacey and breathtaking approach play. It looked like there was only to be one winner when we equalised through Mike and Chye (penalty earned by Gan). QPR was quaking pissing and rocking under the incessant pressure. Gan was to earned us another stone cold penalty as QPR's defenders couldn't cope with his excellent hold-up play. This time, our penalty was well saved by the keeper.

That was to haunt us as QPR earned a corner in one of their rare potent attacks. Their agile striker eluded the attentions of our unlucky fella whose goal was not recognised earlier, and planted a firm header to give them the winning goal.

Bottom line - one that got away, but the MS spirit was worth savouring.