Bullets stage mighty comeback to reach North Zone Final

31st Mar 2015

The victorious Bowen Bullets saluting their supporters after the match

The C Div boys from Bowen Secondary School made history this afternoon at the Yishun JC grounds, coming from 1-0 down to record a rare but impressive victory over 2014 Runner-up Sengkang Secondary School in the NZ Inter-Schools Football semi-final. Two goals in the space of seven minutes late in the second half  helped the Bowen Bullets complete a dogged fightback and qualify for the finals.

The match did not start well for the Bullets as they struggled with the slippery surface, a result of an an earlier downpour. And they made things more difficult for themselves by missing clearances and allowing Sengkang to dominate the earlier exchanges.

A last check by the referee before the kick-off

Things took a turn for the worse when defensive stalwart Harith Aniq fell awkwardly while making a defensive clearance. His resulting injury saw him carried off the field on a stretcher and replaced by Noor Rifat in the 10th minute.

Two minutes later, Aniq's absence in central defence was cruelly exploited by Sengkang. A through-ball managed to worm its way behind the Bowen back four and Sengkang chief striker took the chance to direct the ball past a stranded Bullets keeper Desmond Ong into the goalmouth.

Bowen Bullets starting line-up against Sengkang Sec

Bad weather halted the game momentarily but the 20-minute stoppage allowed the Bullets to regroup. When play resumed, the Bullets shot off the block like men possessed. The Bullets began to dictate the match and forced Sengkang back into their own half. When half-time came, the equaliser did not but the Bullets found encouragement in the way the opponents struggled to cope with their assertive play.

Bullets centre-back Harith Aniq taking a goal kick

The second half saw a very determined and positive Bowen side stamp their authority in the game. Skipper Muhd Zamani, playing the no.10 role, held the ball up well in the attacking third, creating a nuisance of himself in the Sengkang defence and earning free kicks in wide positions. From one of these dead-ball situations in the 43rd minute, Bullets substitute Muhd Yusri found himself in front of goal with the ball but his goal-bound effort was miraculously diverted for a corner by a defender's last-ditch block.

Bullets organising themselves to defend a dead-ball situation

Bowen's deserved equaliser finally came in the 51st minute when a quick counter-attack from the Bullets' half found Zamani pick up the ball outside the Sengkang penalty box. Using Muhd Tahalif's run on the left as a decoy, he cleverly swerved back into the centre and unleashed a missile that found the net off the left goalpost.

Bullets Vice-Captain Muhd Tahalif beating his opponent to the ball

Extra time was beckoning but the Bullets had none of that. With three minutes to go, a free kick from the left was floated into the Sengkang penalty box by Zamani. The Sengkang defence was unable to clear the ball and it fell at Yusri's feet again in a similar position.This time, he made sure to slot the ball into an empty net. The comeback was complete, sparking wild celebrations among the Bullets players and those on the bench.

Bowen	2 – 1	Sengkang
Goals Scored (Bowen only)
Muhd Zamani 51’ Muhd Yusri 57’
Substitutions
Noor Rifat  for Harith Aniq 10’ Muhd Yusri for Muhd Shafiq  40’ Elhan Akmal for Jeremy Chin 48’