Here we come, 2007

As of now, there are only 9 days of holidays left till school reopens.

It would mean that MOST of us can't play soccer as often as you do in 2006. This is because 3/4 of the team are taking their GCE "O" levels Mother Tongue examination in early June next year. We need a lot of time to prepare, as you know, our Chinese kinda sucks. Furthermore, in August or September, the sec4s will be taking their preliminary examinations and just a few months later, the REAL thing, the full GCE "O" levels.

As you can see, it would mean a very tough and torturing year for us (for me la). People like Daryl won't be allowed to play soccer at all.

This would result in a lengthy layoff for training and matches for the Slayers. But, that dosn't mean that all of us would hang up our boots. I suggest we keep this team active, or else it will perish eventually.

1. CCAB soccer every fortnight from 2007 onwards
2. Match every 1 month
3. Team outing every 1 month (can be anything, movies etc.)

These events would be stopped when examinations/ common tests are just 1 month away from it.

If we do not try our best to keep this team alive, I think 1/2 the team will lose interest and leave the team.

We have just earned our 1st victory. Work harder for the next match and we can get our 2nd, which is against Cashew.

YingLun

Full Time Report: Team Slayers vs The Blacks

Team Slayers vs The Blacks, 5-2

Venue: Bukit Timah Field
Kick off time: 3.00pm
Full time: 4.40pm
Weather Conditions: Drizzles, Overcast
Pitch Condition: Flooded, Muddy

Team Slayers Squad:
5. Terence
6. Zi Xiang
7. Shawn
8. Daryl
9. Reuben
10. Jeremy
11. Ying Lun
12. Jun Jie
16. Bo Yang (temporary)
17. Lucas
18. Wei Ian
20. Andy
21. Jethro
22. Chien Ming

Made No Appearances
4. Zi Han (overseas)

Team Slayers Disciplinary
1 Yellow Card (11. Ying Lun)
0 Red Cards

Injury During Match
10. Jeremy- occasional cramps
12. Jun Jie- major impact on right arm
20. Andy- impact on right knee

Report

It was a match that was almost called off due to the monsoon rain during this December year end period which flooded the Bukit Timah Field with rainwater. However, the match resumed as planned but was agreed by both sides that each half would last only 35 minutes instead of the usual 45.

A derby or testimonial match is what the home side called this fixture as a few of the players in the opposition team had played for both sides. Ex- Slayer Kovan led Kamil and on-loan Ghalib out of the blue team to form The Blacks with others donning the white jersey. Hence, the desire for both sides to win this fixture was burning at high temperatures despite the cool weather.

The match kicked off with 12 players in either squad and it took little time for the first piece of action to begin. A goal was scored in the 5th minute of the game when The Blacks' passing was superior to Slayers' tackling. A great piece of work and buildup, not to mention slack marking, gifted a Black player a free run on the right of Slayers defence on a through ball. The Black striker duly drove the ball towards goal which goalkeeper Wei Ian could not do much about but touch it before the ball settled in the back of the net. The first official touch for the Slayers temporary goalkeeper was to pick the ball out of the net. Slayers were slightly shaken but were quick to reply to the Blacks' strike. In the 7th minute, a failed Black attack led to Wei Ian taking a long drop kick to the half way line which Shawn controlled and played a perfectly weighted through ball for 11. Ying Lun to run on and coolly slot it low to the right. Shortly after in the 17th minute, the Slayer's goalscorer was booked for a mistimed sliding tackle on a Black's midfielder which had the referee immediately waving a yellow card in his face. The equaliser meant a 50-50 chance of victory for either side with both teams trying hard to pry open each other's defence. However, The Blacks, who impatiently tried to get into their stride, failed to play well with the attacking mindset. Slayers were forced to sit back to defend with their sole striker 6. Zi Xiang camping mostly in the centre circle. However, a quick counter attack exposed the Blacks' defence with only 3 defenders left behind in their own. The Blacks failed to track back and it took just a few touches for 10. Jeremy down the left to sidestep the opposing right back and take a confident shot with the outside of his right boot, resulting in the ball nestling in the bottom left hand corner. The Black goalkeeper was left stranded while Slayers celebrated the lead. Boosted by his earlier goal, CDM Ying Lun almost punished the Black defence for giving him acres of space. The no. 11 powered a drive from 20 metres toward the top right hand corner of Ghalib's goal. The ball agonsingly missed by centimetres but it was a signal of intent from the midfielder. The Blacks were not happy trailing and launched even more attacks which looked threatening to Slayers. Their defence was shaky and clearances were unconvincing and ineffective. The defenders' low clearances scared their own team mates but not their goalkeeper. In the 25th minute, a ball cleared by 20. Andy reached no further than to a Black's midfielder which unleashed a stunning drive from the edge of the box which Wei Ian turned away for a corner. Newbie Bo Yang came on with the no. 16 shirt and gave almost what seem a certainly Man Of The Match performance. The versatile player took over from Ying Lun at CDM and shocked everyone on the pitch with his first contribution of the game- a stylish and professional sliding tackle. He went a step further and tried to bring the Slayers' forward more into the game. A string of passes in the Slayer's midfield was thought to have come to an end when captain Jeremy attempted a through ball that was intercepted by the opposing centreback. The tall defender, realising no danger, passed the ball back to his keeper but it unexpectedly stopped suddenly before it reached the intended target. Sole striker 6. Zi Xiang took in what was happening and sprinted into the mud puddle which caused the ball to stop and rounded the goalkeeper who was charging up trying make up for the mistake. Zi Xiang coolly rounded the keeper and struck what looked like a sure goal. Dramatically (and unfortunately), the ball once again stopped right before the goal line. A Black defender gladly cleared the danger. The Blacks threatened even more, with captain Kovan spearheading the attacks and creating chances but Slayers hung on to otake the lead heading into half time.

The halftime break lasted about 10 minutes and both teams had a bright start to the half. Slayers made a few changes with 11. Ying Lun switching with 18. Wei Ian as keeper, 8. Daryl coming on for 5. Terence after spending the first half on the bench. 7. Shawn came off after fatigue had the better of him. Illness had a part in that. Slayers kicked off the half and sprayed some passes to the wings. This time, the Blacks concentrated on defending and attacking down the flanks and won a battle for the ball on their right flank. Their right winger raced clear but Lucas and Andy joined forces to the ball out for a corner. The Blacks took a short corner and passed around the Slayers penalty box. Defenders of Team Slayers were fed up of the threat they possessed and charged at the ball. The ball ended up at Bo Yang which cleared to Black's Kovan. In a split second, the 2 footed ex-Slayer unleashed a curling effort that caught everyone off guard. His left footed shot from 15 metres evaded everyone in front of Slayer's goal and went in off the post. The goal could have been prevented as defender 8. Daryl was on the goal line guarding the post but could only get a toe on it as he was unsighted. The game was getting as exciting as the 2-2 score line suggests. About 10 minutes later, 7. Shawn played the ball back to Jeremy in a one-two and the no.10, in a central area, pointed to the left. The Black centreback naively believed jeremy and tried to anticipate by moving to mark Shawn. However, the Slayers playmaker intelligently passed to 18. Wei Ian running in on the right who took a few touches before calmly and composedly slotting it with plenty of accuracy across the face of goal underneath the Black keeper into the other corner. 3-2. The Blacks were stunned by the goal and attacked more through their right flank. It seemed effective as their right winger squared the ball to their striker who suddenly had a burst of speed to beat Lucas and was in through on goal. 8. Daryl raced to make a last ditch tackle but still could not clear the danger and it needed a full body dive from 22.Chien Ming to block ball from the striker. The 1.85m Chien Ming lay on the ball in the mud desperately and soon goalkeeper Ying Lun raced from his goal to claim the loose ball. The away team were getting impatient and aggressive as the centreback slid in on substitute 12. Jun Jie when he did not even have the ball. Jun Jie landed awkwardly on his right arm and felt tremendous pain. However, a strange decision by the referee allowed the Blacks to instead gain possesion. Jun Jie had to come off and soon did Andy as well. The Slayers centreback was whacked on the knee by the Black's striker and was in pain. Despite these despicable actions, the Blacks again lost possession and a throw to Slayers. Leftback Lucas took a throw in to 21. Jethro who unselfishly passed to Wei Ian. Out of the blue, a word broke the silence and intensity of the match when Jeremy shouted what seemed a word like, "Domo!". The only 3 defenders left were distracted by the noise and Wei Ian quickly played Jeremy through who dribbled into the opposing box and sent a low and accurate shot past Ghalib. 4-2. Time was running out and with 2 minutes remaining, the Blacks lost hope in winning the match and sat back and defended what seemed the last corner of the match. Good work from Jethro gave Zi Xiang the chance to run down the left flank but the defender put it out for a corner. Jeremy and Shawn wasted time by passing around at The Black's right corner. Shawn spotted Wei Ian in the box and attempted a cross which a Black defender challenged for the high ball. However, the ball was instead deflected into the path of waiting makeshift right winger 8. Daryl at the back post. He capped a crushing victory over the Blacks by driving the ball towards the far post, away from the onrushing Black goalkeeper, Ghalib. The shot hit the inside of the post and went into the goal. 5-2. Within seconds of restart, the referee blew for final whistle to end the game with the final score at Slayers 5, Blacks 2.

YES !!! We finally won!!!

Yahhooooo!!!!! So happy! (i'm sure eveyone's happy, right?) Haha.

Final score: 5-2

i'll let Daryl do the match report. Hahaz.

Just happy that we managed to win the game and everyone worked hard and worked together.

Great job, people!


ReuBeN