Junior Bullets rue defensive mistakes that gave Sengkang Sec 3-1 win

27th February 2014

Bullets captain (with armband) going for the coin toss

All it took were 2 costly defensive mistakes to separate the Bowen C Div boys from Sengkang Secondary School boys. It was the end of the road for the Junior Bullets in the NZ Inter-Schools Football Championship as they were cruelly exposed by their opponents this afternoon at Serangoon Sec to lose 1-3 and miss out on a semi-final spot.

The Bullets trying to clear the ball to release some pressure

It is the 3rd year running that the Junior Bullets have failed to claim a top 4 ranking in the championship but judging from their first-half performance, it would not be long before they reclaim the accolade. The Bowen Bullets were faster and hungrier in the first-half tussle for dominance. Midfielders Muhd Zamani and Muhd Tahalif combined well to force the Sengkang boys backpeddling; defenders Benny Tan, Muhd Rasydan and Harith Aniq were also quick to the ball, making effective clearances that prevented Sengkang from making any headway in attack.

The Bullets raiding the Sengkang penalty box

However, the good work in the first half was all undone in the first minute of the 2nd half. Instead of booting the ball away, the Bullet defence knocked the ball straight to a thankful Sengkang attacker in the middle of the penalty box and he needed no second invitation to slam the ball into an empty net.

Bullets centre-back shrugging off the attention of 2 Sengkang players

Things got worse in the 40th minute when Bullets skipper Benny Tan failed to connect with a clearance and a Sengkang striker latched on to the ball to stab it past out-of-position goalkeeper Desmong Ong.

It seemed all over for the Bullets in the 45th minute when striker Aizal Murhamdani's overhead volley off a snap pass from Zamani was safely caught by the Sengkang goalkeeper. The Bullets did not give up and continued to chase every ball as the match threatened to run away from them. And 5 minutes later, Bullets attacking midfielder Muhd Irfan lifted the spirits of his team mates when he hooked a long throw from Zamani past a rooted Sengkang keeper into goal.

Bullets midfielder Muh Zamani resorting to unorthodox method to win the ball

Life returned to the match as the tide began to swing back to the Bullets. An equaliser looked likely to come any time as the Bullets went for broke but a momentary lapse of concentration allowed Sengkang to restore the 2-goal lead with 5 more minutes to go. Hemmed in just inside the penalty box, a Sengkang attacker had no where to go with the ball but the pressure from the Bullets eased off, allowing him to swivel and deliver a left-footed grounder into the Bullets' goal.

Bullets midfielder Muhd Zamani emerging unscathed from the attention of the Sengkang defenders

Time finally ran out for the Bowen Bullets at the final whistle as the players in blue slumped to the ground, agonising over what could have been.

Bowen	1 – 3	Sengkang
Goals Scored (Bowen only)
Muhd Irfan 50’
Substitutions (Bowen only)
Nur Ithar Iqmal for MD Dzulfadhl 47'

Senior Boys Bullets end Inter-Schools campaign with another defeat

26th February 2014

The Bullets warming up before the match

 Though mathematically out of the running for the semi-finals and with no points from 2 matches in the 2nd round of the NZ Inter-Schools Championship,  the senior Bowen Bullets managed to lift themselves this afternoon at Marsiling Secondary School field to restrict Serangoon Sec to only a 2-0 win. Serangoon Sec were seeking to claim a big scoreline in order to pip Fuchun Sec to a semi-final spot.

Bullets starting lineup

The boys from Serangoon went on the offense straight from the first whistle, pressing the Bullets high up the field and gaining a large share of ball possession. The Bullets hardly had time to settle when Serangoon won the ball in midfield in the 12th min and launched an attack down the right flank, leaving Bowen's left-back Aden Kuo chasing shadows. The cross that came in was inch-perfect for the tap-in that gave Serangoon a 1-0 lead.

Bullets defence holding up well against relentless attack from Serangoon (red)

The Bullets came back after the break with renewed vigour, this time releasing the ball earlier to put pressure on the Serangoon backline which was having an easy time in the first half. The balls fired over the Serangoon defence by the Bullets looked menacing but Serangoon managed to clear the danger before Bullets chief striker Javier Ho could get to the ball.

Referee attempting to calm down a heated situation

In the 54th min, Serangoon scored a controversial goal that sealed the Bullets' fate. A low stinging shot from a free-kick outside the Bullets' penalty box seemingly whizzed past everyone and into the bottom left corner of Bowen's goalmouth,but not before deflecting off the heel of a player standing just in front of Bullets keeper Muhd Rozaini. Since there was contact of the ball with a Serangoon player in an offside position, the referee should have blown for offside but instead, the goal was given.

Care-taker coach Mr Winston Chua (in green) giving the half-time talk

Feeling unjustifiably let down by the refereeing decisions, the Bullets went all out in search of an elusive goal but it was in vain as Serangoon set up shop to block out whatever the Bullets threw at them. In the end, the result did not either Bowen or Serangoon who failed to score enough goals to move on to the next round.

Another Bullet pass that didn't get to striker Javier Ho (no.10)

Bowen	0 – 2	Serangoon
Goals Scored (Bowen only)
Substitutions (Bowen only)
Aloysius Lee for Adrian Sim 51’ Muhd Aizan for Muhd Hanafi 64’ Faris Hanan for Muhd Afiq 68’
Yellow cards(Bowen only)
Javier Ho 62’

Girls Bullets whitewash Whitley 8-1 in opening match

25th February 2014

The B Div Girls Bowen Bullets Squad 2014

Bullets Skipper Nur Faradila (in yellow) tussling for the ball

The B Div Girls from Bowen started their National Inter-Schools football campaign with a one-sided victory over Whitley Secondary School at Queensway Secondary School Field this afternoon.

Bullets Coach Sheau Shyan giving a team talk

Appearing in their new strip of neon yellow, the Bowen Bullets raced to a 3-1 half-time lead before adding 5 more unanswered goals to win 8-1. Nur Faradila top-scored with 5 goals while Ong Yanling and Nur Shaahidah contributed with 2 goals and 1 goal respectively.

Bullets Sasi making a run down the right flank

Junior Bullets put Top 4 quest back on track with convincing victory

Aizal Murhamdani launching the ball into Siling's penalty box

25th Feb 2014

The C Div boys from Bowen expected a close contest in this afternoon's NZ Inter-Schools match-up against Siling Sec, but they were pleasantly surprised that their opponents' spirit could not withstand the Bullets' 4-min onslaught in the first half which saw the Bullets score 3 goals to win 4-0.

Bullets right-back Ithar Nur Iqmal (no 3) carrying out defensive duties as Muhd Tahalif looks on

Siling Sec were aggressive and determined in the first 20 minutes but as the match wore on, they began to tire and lose focus. In the 24th min, Bullet Muhd Zamani chased a through ball in the penalty box and was bundled over by the Siling goalkeeper. Team mate Muhd Tahalif converted the spot kick which sparked off a period of dominance. 

The Bullets coming in for a quick water break

Straight from the kick-off after conceding the goal, Siling lost the ball under heavy pressure from the Bullets' midfield and Bullets striker Aizal Murhamdani did well to blast the ball past the Siling custodian again once he made space for the shot. Dazed and shocked, Siling had problems getting out of their own half and in the 28th min, Bullets left-back Muhd Rasydan was able to advance just outside the penalty box to unleash a left-footed shot into goal. 

Muhd Zamani's free kick which rocked the crossbar in the first half

At 3-0 up, the Bullets were cruising in the second half while Siling gradually lost their composure. Muhd Zamani capped a series of good team pressure play in and around Siling's penalty box with a left-footed shot that whizzed past an unsighted Siling goalkeeper for the Bullets' final goal in the 42nd min.

Muhd Tahalif opening accounts from the penalty spot

Bullets left-back Muhd Rasydan preventing his opponent from progressing as teammate Muhd Hisam looks on

It was painful to watch the Siling team after that as the players lost focus and began to joke with one another. Their play started to become dangerous as they tackled recklessly and committed bad fouls, prompting Bullets Coach Lim Queen Cher to make four substitutions in the last 15 minutes to avoid injuries to key players for the crucial match against Sengkang Sec on Thursday.

Substitute Marcus Wong coming in for Muhd Zamani

A Muhd Zamani free-kick floated into the danger area

Bowen	4 – 0	Siling
Goals Scored (Bowen only)
Muhd Tahalif 25’(pen) Aizal Murhamdani 26’ Muhd Rasydan 28’ Muhd Zamani 42’
Substitutions (Bowen only)
R.Sharveen for Brendan Tan 40’ Marcus Wong for Muhd Zamani 42’ Muhd Asyraf for Muhd Tahalif 55’ Mark Koh for Muhd Hisam 58’ Terence Ong for Muhd Rasydan 59’

Senior Bullets bow out after heartbreaking loss to Fuchun

24 Feb 2014

Bullets having a team huddle before the start of the match

It was a toned down atmosphere at Marsiling Sec School Field this afternoon as the Bowen Bullets faced off with Fuchun Sec for a place in the last 4 of the NZ Inter-Schools B Div Boys Football Championship. After crowd trouble surfaced at the previous match day, security was beefed up as supporters were barred from watching the match at the grandstand. And the sombre mood matched that of the Bullets after the match as they suffered another heartbreaking loss.

Hilman (no. 6) providing cover for Muhd Akmal (covered) during an aerial attack

Fuchun started the brighter of the two sides as they launched attacks by sending long balls to the channels, trying to take advantage of their 3-man strikeforce. Other than a few shots off target, there was little to trouble the Bullets. Once the Bullets settled down midway through the first half, they began to play the better football.

The score remained scoreless at the end of the first half but 11 minutes after the restart, Fuchun scored a fortunate goal when Bullets goalkeeper Muhd Rozaini fumbled a routine overhead catch. Once the ball was spilled into play, two Fuchun players immediately rushed in and combined to nod the ball into an unguarded goalmouth with some suspicion of an offside.

Muhd Hakim (no. 13) taking a throw-in

The Bullets threw caution to the wind, bringing on an extra attacker in an attempt to find the equaliser but lady luck did not smile on them. Muhd Danial misjudged an inviting cross from substitute Aloysius Lee in the 65th minute, allowing the ball to bounce across him and out of bounds.

Bullets defending a corner from Fuchun

That chance was lost but several more were to come. The best opportunity came in the 73rd minute when substitute Faris Hanan was put through on goal and got to the ball first before colliding with the oncoming Fuchun goalkeeper. To the dismay of the Bowen bench, the referee denied the Bullets a stonewall penalty, awarding a freekick to Fuchun instead for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Muhd Akmal (no. 8) glancing a header wide 

Unfortunately, the better team lost on the day and when the final whistle came at 1-0 to Fuchun, it signalled the end of Bowen's enterprising run in the North Zone competition. The last match against Serangoon Sec on Wednesday would now seem academic but the Bullets' pride would want to have a last say in who qualifies for the semi-finals from the group.

Bullets clearing their lines

Muhd Hanafi (centre) and skipper Tan Ren Yu (blue no. 7) fighting for midfield supremacy

Fuchun	1 – 0		Bowen
Goals Scored (Bowen only)
		--
Substitutions (Bowen only)
Aloysius Lee for Adrian Sim 48’ Faris Hanan for Tan Ren Yu 62’
Yellow Cards
Hilman 41’ Muhd Akmal 68’

C Boys Bullets edged out by nemesis Serangoon Sec

20 Feb 2014

Bullets Muhd Tahalif feeling the effects of a knock 

Junior boys Bullets were unlucky to taste defeat for the 2nd time in the NZ Inter-Schools C Div Boys Championship this afternoon when they lost out narrowly to their host Serangoon Sec 1-2.

Both teams were hoping for a victory to start the 2nd round and the pitch did not make it any easier. The dry and hard surface made bounces unpredictable and both teams experienced some awkward scares in the early exchanges. While the Bullets were playing their way through their opponents, the home team resorted to long punts behind Bowen's defensive line to gain advantage.

Bullets centre-back Benny Tan (with armband) and Md Dzulhl taking their marking job seriously

And it was from one of these attempts in the 18th min that Serangoon Sec got their first goal. The Bullets' defenders and goalkeeper were caught hesitating as a ball fell between them and a Serangoon striker latched on the lose ball to score.

3 minutes after the restart, the Bullets came roaring back with a well-worked free kick by skipper Benny Tan. His ground shot found its way through the opponents wall and past the goalkeeper into an empty goal.

The Bullets taking a water-break

Serangoon then found the winner in the 39th min when a cross from the left was blocked twice by Bullets right back Harith Aniq before the third try found its way to the far post for a seemingly offside Serangoon player to tap home for 2-1.

The Bullets did not disappoint in the courage department as they launched determined attacks that had Serangoon Sec reeling, especially a Muhd Hisam volley in the penalty box that shook the crossbar after beating the goalkeeper.  Moments before that unlucky miss, Benny Tan also saw has long shot skimmed the top of the crossbar for a goal kick.

A Bowen shot on goal

The score remained the same and at the final whistle, the Bullets were left to rue the loss. It now means that the junior Bullets will have to win their next 2 matches against Siling Sec and Sengkang Sec to stand any chance of making the top 4.

The Bullets having a tactical discussion during a break in play

Serangoon Sec	2 – 1		Bowen
Goals Scored (Bowen only)
		Benny Tan 33’
Substitutions (Bowen only)
Nur Ithar Iqmal for MD Dzulfadhl 50’

Bullets slipped 3-4 to Marsiling Sec in pulsating match

19 Feb 2014

The Bowen Bullets defending a corner

The Bowen Bullets B Div boys lost their one-goal lead twice in an end-to-end quater-final match against Marsiling Sec this afternoon to eventually lose 3-4.

Muhd Danial and Javier Ho were pulling the strings in Bowen's formidable attack, while wide-man Karthik did the same for Marsiling Sec. It was the Bullets who drew first blood in the 15th min when a lob over the Marsiling defence found Javier who was quick to push the ball ahead and smash in the first goal.

Skipper Tan Ren Yu (No. 7), gains possession as teammate Muhd Hilman (No. 6) looks on

Marsiling came back with their skipper Karthik bursting down the left after he let slipped his marker. His cut-back from the bye-line was easily met by an onrushing team mate who tapped in for an easy equaliser.

The Bullets regained their advantage in the 39th min from a Muhd Danial freekick outside the penalty box right in the centre. His floating kick beat the goalkeeper and slipped into the goalmouth off the crossbar. The action was relentless in the first half and the Bullets took a deserving lead into the break.

Centre-back Muhd Hilman taking a freekick

Marsiling managed to equalise again 12 minutes into the 2nd half from a free header off a corner kick. 5 minutes later, the host broke the Bullets' heart with a goal coming from a stiff shot just inside the penalty box. The Bullets tried to fight on as Bullets coach sent in Muhd Afiq for a two-pronged attack with Javier Ho. Muhd Danial almost equalised in the 65th min when his freekick from outside the box beat the goalkeeper but not the left goalpost. Then Marsiling made it more difficult for Bowen by scoring another goal to make it 4-2 in the 74th min.

Bullets midfielder Muhd Hanafi, staying close to his opponent

The scoreline hardly broke the Bullet's spirit a they held on to the belief that they could still come back; the Bullets started to win every ball and launched numerous attacks. They were rewarded in the 79th min when a cross from the left was met by Javier Ho who guided it into goal. But it was too little too late as the referee ended the match which incited strong supporter reaction from the stands.

Bullets striker Javier Ho (blue), being blocked off the ball

Marsiling	4 – 3		Bowen
Goals Scored (Bowen only)
		Javier Ho 15’, 79’ Muhd Danial 39’
Substitutions (Bowen only)
Muhd Afiq for Muhd Hakim 58’

C Boys Bullets' sink defensive-minded Christchurch Sec

13 February 2014

Bullets captain Benny Tan (in bib), at the toss of the coin

North Zone Inter-Schools C Div Boys Championship
Group B
	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
Spore Sports School	3	3	0	0	15	1	14	9
Bowen	4	3	0	1	11	2	9	9
Woodgrove	3	1	0	2	2	12	-10	3
Christchurch	3	0	1	1	3	4	-1	1
Hougang	3	0	1	2	2	11	-9	1

The C Div boys from Bowen Secondary School secured their place in the quarter-finals of the North Zone Inter-Schools Football Championship after breaking down a stubborn Christchurch Secondary side with 3 unanswered goals this afternoon at the Bowen School field. This follows the same feat achieved by their seniors 3 days ago.

A Muhd Tahalif (No. 11) shot that went agonisingly wide

Bullets Muhd Zamani (third from left) and Muhd Tahalif planning for a free kick

Playing further upfront, midfield dynamo Muhd Zamani was again the main threat for the Bowen Bullets, scoring a brace and making an assist. Christchurch Sec were happy to sit back in their own half and let the Bullets pass the ball in front of them. With most of the possession, the Bullets created numerous openings but were not able to convert them -- until the 8th min when Zamani hit a speculative shot from 25m out and the Christchurch goalkeeper fumbled a routine catch into his own goal. Zamani made it 2-0 in the 46th min by unleashing an unstoppable shot from a freekick outside the penalty box. This time, the goalkeeper had no chance.

A Christchurch player with nowhere to go under the Bullets' watchful eyes

Bullets left-back Muhd Rasydan preparing for an aerial duel

Throughout the match, Christchurch were organised in defence and closed down the Bullets, leaving them little space to manoeuvre in the attacking third. It was through the flanks that the Bullets enjoyed more freedom and from one of the wide forays (60th min), Bowen earned a corner which was swung viciously into the Christchurch penalty area by Zamani. Muhd Tahalif was at the right place to guide the ball into an empty goal for a handsome victory.

Bullets skipper Benny Tan taking a free kick

Bowen	3 – 0		Christchurch
Goals Scored (Bowen only)
Muhd Zamani 8’, 46’ Muhd Tahalif 60’
Substitutions (Bowen only)
R Sharveen for Muhd Aizal 52’ Ithar Nur Iqmal for Harith Aniq 52’ Muhd Asyraf for Muhd Zamani 55’ Marcus Wong for Muhd Irfan 55’