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’