Bullets deprived of victory over Serangoon Secondary by late goal

10 Feb 2012

The C Div Boys from Bowen Sec put up one of their best performances against Serangoon Secondary School in a NZ Inter-Schools Group D match this afternoon but were left undone by a late equaliser in the last 5 minutes of the game.

The junior Bullets played gallantly and were markedly the better team for most of the match which ended in a 1-1 draw. Serangoon Sec could not cope with the attacking triangle of Muhd Afiq, Muhd Aizan and Javier Ho, failing to string simple passes together. In contrast, the Bullets played early balls and found their way out of tight situations with one-touch passing.  With left midfielder Muhd Hazim also in inspired form, the Bullets enjoyed much of the possession which they made good use of. Off a corner from the left in the 4^th minute, Muhd Hazim who was left unmarked at the far post, rose the highest to nod the ball into the net to the delight of the Bowen bench and supporters.

Serangoon Sec went on the offensive after conceding but was always second best in the 50-50 challenges. With few solutions, they resorted to some unorthodox tackles. Late in the first half, one of the tackles from behind grounded Muhd Afiq but the offender was only given a warning by the referee. Afiq had to eventually leave the field due to the injury, giving way to Saiful to play in the centre of midfield.

The second half went the same way as the first but without the most inventive player in the team, the Bullets’ strength in midfield was slightly compromised. Still the Bullets’ defence, marshalled by Muhd Akmal stood like the wall of China, repelling everything that the opponents threw at it. The Bullets looked like heading to a well-deserved victory until the 55^th min when Serangoon Sec scored a lucky equaliser. From a harmless position, Serangoon Sec launched a free kick behind the Bowen defence that looked flat for the first time. When the ball dropped, a Serangoon striker pounced on the lose ball to send a weak shot that trickled into the corner of the goalmouth as goalkeeper Muhd Rozaini struggled to get across to cover.

Ultimately,  a goal each in both the first and last 5 minutes of the game allowed both teams to share the points but it was the home team that looked the happier side as they now hold the advantage in goal difference in the table standings. To leapfrog Serangoon Sec to the top position, the Bullets will now have to score more than 10 goals against Hougang Sec next Tuesday. But if the Bullets could stay fit and play like they did today, who is to say that the goals galore could not happen?

Man-of-the-match: Muhd Hazim who played positively in left midfield, creating space for the strikers to torment the opponent’s defence. Add to that, a headed goal to earn a draw. The alternative choice is Muhd Danial who was calm and collected in defence.

Line-up: Rozaini, Adrian, Akmal, Danial, Sureen, Aloysius, Rafid, Aizan, Hazim, Afiq (Saiful), Javier.