Bullets brush aside Geenview Secondary in the National Rounds

19 Apr 2013

The Bowen Bullets rode the crest of euphoria from their 3^rd placing in the North zone competition to record an important 1-0 win over their East Zone opponents, Greenview Secondary in the National Inter-Schools Football Competition this afternoon at Hong Kah Sec School field. Bullets striker Karthik scored the only goal of the game after just getting off the plane in the morning.

The Bullets started the match brightly against their opponents who looked tentative and slightly subdued. While the boys from Bowen were pressing all over the field, Greenview made mostly half-hearted attempts at winning the ball. 10 min into the game, Karthik was allowed a sight on goal but his shot was too tame to trouble the Greenview keeper. In one of the rare moments where Greenview managed to squeezed in a grounder, Bullets keeper Danial Haikel dived full-stretched to push the ball away for a corner.

In the 31^st min, Bullets striker Javier Ho pressed the play high and managed to steal the ball off the left back. Once inside the penalty area, Javier cut the ball back for his strike partner Karthik to tap the ball into the back of the net. Stunned from conceding the opening goal, Greenview looked lost in defence and Bullets midfielder Muhd Aizan took advantage by curling the ball towards goal from outside the penalty box. Alas, his inventive attempt was pushed out by the Greenview keeper.

The 2^nd half saw a more spirited Greenview display but the Bullets managed to keep the game under control, with skipper Muhd Azfar and Muhd Akmal taking charge of midfield with battling displays. The centre-back partnership of Royce Chua and Muhd Hilman were also having an excellent outing, attacking high balls and displaying good covering for one another.

The Bullets managed to hold out till the final whistle and recorded a morale-boosting win over an opponent who 2 years ago, gave the Bullets a 7-0 thrashing during a friendly match. The improving Bullets will be given another stern test next Monday when they meet West Zone Champions Hong Kah Secondary School on their home ground.

Greenview	0 - 1	Bowen
		Karthik 31’
Substitutions
Afiq for Aizan 60’ Hakim for Karthik 72’

Bowen Bullets Starting Line-Up

Danial Haikel

Muhd Akhsan

Muhd Hilman

Royce Chua

Mhd Rafid

Muhd Aizan

Muhd Akmal

Muhd Azfar (C)

Sim Yi En

Karthik

Javier Ho

Bullets clinch 3rd place with splendid performance

10^th April 2013

Despite missing 4 key players in this afternoon’s 3^rd & 4^th playoff match against Serangoon Secondary School, the B Boys Bowen Bullets put up a commanding performance to down their opponents 2-0 at Marsiling Secondary School field.

  

Bowen Bullets are 2nd Runners-Up

In the absence of several players through injury, suspension and compassionate leave, the Bullets started the game cautiously, creating goal threats only from free-kick situations. Bullets coach Lim Queen Cher showed another tactical masterstroke in the plight of absent players by placing left-back Muhd Hanafi in the central midfield role and Hanafi did not disappoint, closing down the opponents in swashbuckling fashion.

With the support of the Bowen supporters in the stands, the Bullets slowly gained the upper hand in possession while the Bowen backline of Royce, Hilman, Arsyad and Akhsan repelled the diagonal balls swept in by the Serangoon boys.

It was still 0-0 after the first half but it was clear after the break that the Bullets had the momentum. In fact, straight from the kick-off of the 2^nd half, striker Javier Ho was put through on goal but his first touch let him down and the chance was gone.  The Bullets continued to press while the Serangoon side began to lose their way.

 In the 66^th min, a superb long pass found Muhd Afiq on the right and he raced past his marker into the penalty box. Frustrated by Afiq’s trickery, the last defender chopped him down and the referee had no hesitation in awarding Bowen a penalty. Skipper Muhd Azfar stepped up to convert from the spot.

10 minutes later, Javier Ho put the result beyond doubt by chasing down a tired Serangoon defence trying to play their way up the field. After nicking the ball from the defenders, Javier invaded Serangoon’s penalty box and flicked the ball into an empty goal via a desperate touch by a retreating defender.

Captain Muhd Azfar receiving the 2nd Runners-Up trophy

In a match that was nothing but a prelude to the final showpiece between the zone’s top 2 teams, the Bullets fully deserved the victory for showing clearly more desire and purpose.

Serangoon	0 - 2	Bowen
		Azfar 66’ (pen) Javier 76’
Yellow Card
Hanafi 9’
Substitutions
Hazim for Kenneth 65’