Dunman High 2 : 3 Victorians
(Kenny, Ellery)

A classic tale of two halves, as many neutrals would have put it, probably summed up the hard-fought match that was played out on Sunday. Even before the match had kicked off, Dunmanians were warned of the awesome might of the opposing team. With a line-up that boasted several ex-VJCian soccer team players and perhaps adding a few cross-country athletes for good measure, it seemed as though a David vs Goliath match was on the cards. On paper, it seemed to be a no-contest. However, as Dunman High took to the field for a pre-match briefing by club gaffer Jason, the team was quietly confident of a good result. The team was probably buoyed on by a run of commendable performances in previous games.

As the match kicked off under the humid and sweltering heat conditions, Dunman High raced off the blocks as if to prove a point to the overwhelming favourites and to erase their tags as underdogs.. The first 10 minutes were played at a tremendous tempo, with both sides trying to gain ascendancy in midfield. As the match progressed, Dunman High gradually gained control of the match. With team’s wingers, Wenguang and James, having a field day against rather suspect defending by the opposing fullbacks, it seemed as though the opening goal was inevitable. On one such marauding run by Wenguang on the left flank, the pacy winger managed to evade a challenge by Victorian fullback, Brother, and whipped in a delightful cross from the bye-line. It seemed as though Victorian towering centre-back, Vincent, had it covered. However, the usually dependable defender miscontrolled the ball and Dunman High striker, Kenny, managed to win the ball from him. The striker proceeded to slot the ball calmly under the despairing dive of the opposing keeper. 1-0 to Dunman High!

As the match wore on, Dunman High were growing in confidence and the goal gave the team an extra spark or belief that they could match their supposedly superior rivals. Dunman High continued to press for a second goal while Victorians seemed strangely subdued, with their attackers unable to create any decent opening against the well-oiled defence marshaled by Dunmanian defender, Alan. With 15 minutes to half-time, Dunman High won a corner on the right side. Wenguang curled in another delicious cross which was powerfully met by Ellery in clinical fashion, giving the keeper no chance at all. 2-0 to the team in maroon! It seemed as though Victorians had lost the plot as they looked on despondently as Dunman High celebrated their second goal.

With central midfielders, Jason and Keng Yang, in no mood to lose any 50-50 balls, Dunman High continued to play out the rest of the half in typically dominant fashion. The opposing fullbacks, who were given a torrid time by the rampant wingers, were also not given any respite with Wenguang and James threatening on few another occasions towards the end of the half. As the half-time whistle arrived, both sets of players trooped off the pitch with contrasting moods.

As the players took to the field for the second half, it was simply a case of seeing out the lead till the end for Dunman High. With the afternoon sun showing no signs of mercy, the match was calling out for the weary limbs to stand up and be counted. However, doing it was an entirely different thing altogether as Dunman High was to learn later on. The match kicked off in the same blistering fashion as the first-half. This time, however, it was Victorians who came out firing on all cylinders. Dunman High, so imperious in the first-half, was being pinned back in their own half following waves of relentless attacks by Victorians. The Victorians finally opened their accounts early in the second half as the team won a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Defender Vincent stepped up to fire in a rising shot, leaving Dunman High custodian, Zhirong, clasping at thin air. 1-2!

Victorians continued to press forward in search of an equalizer while Dunman High were seemingly unable to get out of their half, in particular with strikers Boon Wee and Hanzen unable to get any meaningful touch on the ball. With the score delicately balanced at 2-1, Dunman High had a chance to seal the match when Ellery managed to find space in a goalmouth scramble. However, the scorer of the first-half could only side-foot his shot into the side netting. Victorians finally managed to level the scores when a catalogue of defensive errors by the fast-tiring defenders left the opposing striker with a clear sight on goal. The forward made no mistake with a first-time shot which nestled at the back of the net, again leaving Zhirong with no chance although it was no fault of his.

With the match coming to a close, Dunman High managed to launch a few sporadic attacks to ease the pressure on the defence. A long ball launched from defence was aimed towards the opposing right-back. With Boon Wee and Yanzhang pouncing on the isolated fullback in a flash, the defender lost the ball to the two attackers. A snapshot by Yanzhang flashed just wide of the near post, leaving the keeper to heave a sigh of relief. The last goal of the match finally arrived in spectacular fashion when Victorians midfielder evaded the challenges of two players to power a left-foot missile into the top of the goal. 3-2 to Victorians!

With time running out, Kenny had a chance to level the scores. However, after the turning a defender, the striker could only fire over the crossbar. That proved to be the final chance of the game. Final whistle duly arrived shortly.

FINAL SCORE 3:2.

The match witnessed both sides of Dunman High, with fatigue again playing a decisive factor which was clearly reflected in the final score. In a match which threw up many questions, the sooner the team finds answers to its Achilles Heal, the better.

courtesy of Kenny