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.

Match #45 (10 Nov 2013): A Stylish 3-1 Win Over The Hair-Stylists

Salon One are a respectable team comprising veterans who sure know how to play football. They did come close on several occasions but luck must have deserted them. Notwithstanding, we were worthy 3-1 winners out of this duel as we just had as many, if not more, goal-scoring chances as them. Mike was both hero-villain for us, notching our first goal in the first half before a poor giveaway in the 2nd half led to their equalising goal. Then a couple of cool finishing from the Tang brothers beat their stylish keeper and settled the issue.

But the most memorable moment came from See Chiang's glaring miss after beating Salon One's keeper to the ball and with the goal wide open, he placed the ball wide. Now we know why he is never successful with the Xiao-Mei-Mei :)

match #44 (3 Nov 2013): Marine Sunday vs KOP - 2nd Leg: We Proved Our Worth

Coincidentally, we lined up against Kop for 2nd week in a row and we showed last match's 1-1 draw was a hiccup on our part as we ran out worthy 6-3 winner in this "2nd-leg" match. Yes, 4 of our 6 goals were gifted by their schoolboy defensive blunders but we didn't ask for those, did we? We capitalized on those blunders, shouldn't we?

But Kop were no pushovers. While we had Teck Wah at his predatory best today, notching a hat-trick by punishing them dearly on those defensive blunders, Kop had in their No 9 a sure-footed striker who scored a brace and had an assist in their other goal.

Chor Guan (penalty), Mike and Kama completed the repertoire for us in a match that wasn't pleasing to the football purists. There was hardly any passing from both sides. It was more like a primary school football match with both sides simply booting the ball forward and hoping for the best.

An ugly match but a beautiful win for us :)

Match #43 (27 Oct 2013): All The Misses Caused The 1-1 Draw

We should have buried Kop 12 feet under given the number of misses we had. Kian Hwa was the biggest culprit, with 4 open-goal opportunities at his mercy but fluffed them all. Both goals were of superb quality that were worth watching repeatedly. Simon intercepted a ball from midfield and, spotting the keeper out of position, produced a delicate chip over the stranded keeper to keep us at 1-0 lead at the break. But Kop's equalising goal wasn't any inferior compared to Daniel Sturridge's audacious chip in the match against WBA. Meeting a cross from the right, their No 1 danger man leaped high and cushioned the ball with his cultured left foot to lob it over Brandon.

The match degenerated into a physical encounter but both shared the spoils.

Match #42 (13 Oct 2013): Family United Lost But They Won Big-Time In Family Spirit. They Remain Family United!

I was told post-match that there were 7 brothers among the Opponent and those 4 women at the sideline were their sisters! Wow, 11 siblings and they still remain so close at their age. Very admirable. Sure, they lost the match big time to us. 10-nil....but they had won big, very big in terms of family tie.

Simon (3), Chor Guan (2), Kama, Mike, Teck Chye, Kian Hwa, Woon scored the 10 goals but no way did we dent the love among their 11 siblings :)

Match #41 (6 Oct 2013): Question Marks Had A Lot To Answer

When a team is named Question Marks, either they are casting doubt on their opponents or they have been searching for answers. Today, they might have been enlightened by a bunch of mid-life crisis folks who overran them 7-1.

Yes, the goal conceded was a sore point in an otherwise thoroughly perfect outing. If KH had not missed the sitter less than half-a-meter from the open goal, it would have been the lucky eight.

Mike put in a top-form display and notched 2 goals, Gan also notched a brace and a goal each from Teck Wah, Kama, Simon completed the misery for Question Marks. Question, anyone?