Junior Bullets close the season with a last-gasp draw

6 Mar 2012



The C Div boys from Bowen bowed out of the NZ Inter-Schools Football tournament with a well-deserved 1-1 draw against Woodlands Secondary this afternoon at Sengkang Sec Field. With the result, the Bullets finished 3^rd in the quarter-final table behind favourites Singapore Sports School and Sengkang Secondary School.



Missing 3 key players through suspension and sickness, the junior Bullets were not at their best, failing to produce their usual spring on the ball and neat inter-passing. Striker Javier Ho and midfield general Muhd Danial were serving one-match suspensions while Muhd Aizan was sick. Muhd Ridhuan was called up to make his debut in central midfield but could not keep pace with the game. In the 12^th min, the Bullets conceded a free kick which was floated over the entire Bullets defence into goal, surprising Bullets goalkeeper Muhd Rozaini who stood rooted to the ground.

Bullets right-back Adrian Sim

The goal stung the Bullets into life. Striker Muhd Afiq was a constant menace to the Woodlands defence, threatening to beat the entire Woodlands defence with his trickery and movement with the ball. Some semblance of the real Bullets began to show but with key players missing, it was always going to be an uphill task.

Bullets centre-back Muhd Akmal making another clearance

In the 2^nd half, the Bullets began to close down space and set up camp in the Woodlands half. But numerous chances were foiled successfully by the Woodlands players who were under relentless pressure from the Bullets.

The Bullets looked like heading for their 3^rd consecutive 1-nil loss when midfielder-turned-striker, Aloysius Lee popped up in the last minute of the match to float a free kick into the Woodlands goal for the equaliser. It was an identical goal which the Bullets had conceded earlier in the match but it was nonetheless, celebrated with understandable relief.

The Bullets subs of the day!

At least, the Bullets could claim to be a top-6 C Division team in the North Zone. Well done boys!

Man-of-the-Match: Once again Muhd Afiq mesmerised the opponents with his mazy runs and tenacity. But skipper Muhd Akmal also caught the eye with uncompromising performance in the centre of defence.

Line-up: Rozaini, Akmal, Adrian, Saiful, Sureen, Ridhuan (Samuel), Rafid, Aloysius, Hazim, Riley (Damien), Afiq