Match #20 (29 April 2012): We Made All-Stars See Stars!

This was a match where we dug deep into our experience to carve out an impressive win against Dunman All Stars, a team whose average age is 14 years younger than us. And considering we had only 12 turnouts against their 17, the win was all the more admirable. Last minute pullouts of Melvin and Leo reduced the team to bare bones, the joy of YC's arrival was short-lived and dimmed by the back injury sustained by Kama during the match. Still, we battled on and the unwavering spirit prevailed! In such adversity, much to everyone's pleasant astonishment, Mike stood up to be counted as he chalked up 4 goals to his credit.

DAS had us in sixes and sevens in the opening 25 minutes of the match. They notched an early goal after a mix-up in our defence presented their swift striker with a ERP-less access to our goal. They then came close again when another build-up hit the post, followed by another certain goal denied by Brandon's broad chest. We struggled to find some semblance of fluency in our play. Mike, after his initial tentative play, then popped up to reverse the early deficit with 2 poacher goals, both from fine assists by Teck Wah, only for another defensive lapse to present DAS with a soft equalising goal. DAS thought they had regained the upper hand but Teck Wah completed his hat-trick of assists when he set up Chwee Leng for a clinical finish that was reminiscent of his old VJC self. 3-2 at the break.

We expected DAS to come back strongly in the 2nd half but by their own admission, the team spirit evaporated in the warm weather and they lost their shape. Teck Chye intercepted one of the many poor clearances from DAS' keeper and set his younger sibling up for his deserving goal. Mike then displayed his agility to the fullest - first rising highest like a salmon to meet Teck Wah's corner with a header that would have made Fandi Ahmad proud. Then, from another Teck Wah's corner, he stooped to the lowest point he could and headed another ball unchallenged into goal. 6-2 and we looked to be cruising, but DAS benefitted from the referee's dubious call for a soft penalty and reduced the deficit to a less embarrassing 6-3 scoreline.