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’