Soccer Fellowship Report (25th August)

It's been awhile since the last fellowship session, due to the hectic CRC matches that have been going on the past few weeks. So it was nice that PMC community could come together for some light kickabout. Many familiar faces were seen again, who may not have been with the CRC team, but still equally passionate soccer players. We welcomed back Darren and also a few new friends that Yi Jun brought later in session. The session started pretty late as only about 10 players were on the field at 330pm. Weather was cloudy, perfect for a Saturday afternoon workout. Jem opened the session with a prayer, and then teams were split white against the dark. 

Daniel, Jingzhong & Weijie kit up

Darren & John getting ready for the game

Play was in one half of the breadth of the field, with the young NS boys in white, and the older veterans in dark. Playing in smaller space trains touches and movement, so it was a good warmup. It wasn't long before the remaining guys appeared- Yijun and friends. After splitting into both light colours against dark, we shifted to the full field, with about 9 aside. Play was then resumed, with scoring only permitted in the 6-yard box. When Dom arrived, play was changed to using goalkeeper and a friendly game ensued, about 10 aside. The whites had the core of the CRC players, all averaging teens - JZ, Dan Low, Weijie, Dom, Yijun, while the dark have the older veterans like Ronnie, Daniel Chen, Kee Min, Jem etc. Goals were plenty, but the important element was trying to play more as a team and stringing passes across the field. The younger whites were able to string quite abit of passes, while the veterans were good at soaking up the pressure and simply focused on counter attacks.  Midway through the game, our longest serving ball decide to retire as a hole appeared on the side of its skin. After changing the ball, the clouds began to clear up, and the field started to scorch up. Players then went for a break at around 430pm.

After the break, it was all about fitness, as even the whites could be seen to lose their rhythm of play. As there were no matches beyond 5, the game carried on until a few of them had to leave, making it impossible to play with a goalkeeper, so play revert back to scoring within the 6-yard box. This carried on for about another 15min before all of us were exhausted and decide to call it a day. It was indeed an awesome fellowship session, where there wasn't much pressure to play competitively and everyone had an enjoyable time. Of course, come this weekend, the core CRC team will have to turn up at their best on the pitch as they take on BESS. 

Lets continue to give the PMC team the support regardless if we are playing or not, as we are all 1 big family! Supporters are welcome!

 

Yi Jun & friends having fun after Soccer Fellowship

Guys having a laught at Yi Jun's antics

Soccer Fellowship (25th August)

Soccer Fellowship is back this Saturday, 25th August at Greenview Secondary School* (yes, the one in Pasir Ris). The session will be from 3 - 5 pm.

The long break has been due to the Soccer Team's participation in this year's CrossRoad Cup. As the season started late, the fixtures had to be packed within 2.5 months from July to September. However, PMC will continue to have Soccer Fellowship at least once a month during this time.

Please bring BOTH a BRIGHT and DARK jersey so that we can split the teams evenly.

Please pray for good weather! If you suspect the session is cancelled, please check the blog/email for more information before you head for the field. Cancellation of session will be broadcast on the blog and by email immediately when we are informed by Sports Council.

*The address of Greenview Secondary School is 15 Pasir Ris Street 21.

CRC2012 Match #7: PMC vs AMC (19th August)

The final group stage game for PMC took place at Junyuan Secondary, with AMC turning up inhuge numbers, relative to PMC's tight small squad of 14 players. With qualification virtually guaranteed, some members of the PMC team chose to rest their wearied bodies (especially those doing their National Service), while others were injured or unavailable due to work/personal commitments. Still, the 14 that turned up were committed to give their best, as there was still the slim chance that PMC could finish top of the group with a victory over PMC, and BENS defeating CAG.

Singspiration and Sharing was lead by PMC, with Maurice leading 2 songs, followed by Steve’s sharing on being part of a team. Maurice then closed with a word of prayer. To confirm the strong ties between PMC and AMC, the team leaders also facilitated a good show of  sportsmanship, with Derek and Weijie shaking hands to bury any unhappiness from the previous game between the 2 sides on 13th May 2012. This was a good testimony that should mark the footballing exchanges between Christians and certainly there was already a victory (in this sense) even before kick-off.

With quite a number of regulars absent, the starting 11 for PMC saw players taking unfamiliar positions in the following manner:

Martin

Daniel Chen - Steve - Rusydi

Isaiah - Dominic

 Andrew - Jeremy Sin - Kee Min

Weijie

Maurice

AMC, on the other hand, appeared to field a very strong young team, clearly intent on securing top spot in the group, so that they would meet the weakest team in the other group in the Quarter-finals. AMC kicked off the match with a high tempo, pressing high to force PMC into early errors. AMC players were quick and earned the first corner early in the game, from which they scored their first goal of the game. It was not the first time in a PMC-AMC match that PMC stood rooted after only minutes in the game. Before long, PMC conceded their 2nd goal, when  possession was lost on the left wing and a random shot caught Maurice off guard. Having conceded only 2 goals in his previous 3 games, it was a tough start for Maurice, as AMC constantly sent long balls and attacks via their flanks, causing the PMC defence to be in disarray. Being unable to keep possession or threaten AMC, PMC conceded their 3rd goal when AMC's winger was able to advance down the left flank and sent a cross in. Unfortunately for Weijie, his attempt to intercept the ball sent it past Maurice instead. With the 1st half moving at great pace, and PMC unable to keep up, another goal was conceded late in the half, signalling the end of PMC's attempt to finish top of the group. 

The half-time team talked focused on finding a way to get back into the match, however unlikely that would seem, and to stop conceding goals at the rate they did in the 1st half. The decision was made to adopt a 4-4-2 formation in search of goals. Changes were also made at half-time for fresh legs to come, using all 3 substitutes that PMC had, with Michael coming on for Maurice in goal, Yi Jun up front for Steve, and Lincoln on the left of midfield for Daniel Chen, who completed his first action of the CRC2012 season, having sat out the first 6 matches due to injury and work. The AMC team appeared to change about half their team as well, clearly showing the confidence that they would hold on to their 4-goal lead. 

Despite the changes in formation and having fresher legs in the team, PMC continued to struggle to make any head-way in the match, conceding 2 early goals in the 2nd half. The notable goal from the 2 was one of those cross-shots from deep (almost half-way line), which sailed over Michale and dipped just under the bar, leaving Michael helpless. A positive takeaway from PMC was that despite the odds, PMC tried their best to play stronger, going in harder for all the 50-50 balls. Its cause was not helped when at the 60th minute, Weijie went down with a knee injury after a challenge on an AMC forward. PMC thus had to soldier on with 10 man for the final 20 minutes, doing some re-shuffling to its formation again. AMC's final goal came from a counter-attack, outpacing Isaiah (who was covering at CB) and squaring the ball just beyond Kee Min’s reach for a forward to score. The final whistle could not come soon enough to signal PMC's biggest defeat of the season. On the larger scheme of things, it did not dampen the fact that PMC had qualified for the Quarter-finals for the 1st time in 5 years of Christian league football.

Despite the loss, it was a great effort by PMC to combat a strong AMC team. The match was played in good spirits. There were very few fouls made throughout the game and no yellow cards shown. PMC certainly learnt a couple of footballing lessons from their stronger and more experienced opponents, who showed why they were the perennial champions of the tournament. After the full-time team talk, Maurice closed off the session with a prayer, especially seeking recovery for those who sustained knocks as well as for players who called in sick.

CRC2012 Match #6: PMC vs BENS (12th August)

PMC's CrossRoad Cup journey continued at Hai Sing Catholic School, where a very young BENS team of 12 players showed up to deter PMC from reaching the knock-out stage of the tournament. Similar to the last match, PMC knew that only a win would do to ensure that they did their part to make the top 4 in Alpha Group. Already before kick-off, PMC had 2 players robbed from the team, with Andrew's flight delayed from Penang, and Damien succumbing to the 'Z monster' at home. Nonetheless, there were still enough for a full team of players as Kevin was already the 19th man, and Lincoln was ready to play, even though he had come only to support the team.

PMC players kitting up for the crucial match

Isaiah & Maurice ready to go!

Bob from BENS led both teams in Singspiration before Titus shared about his A Division football journey and how through it, he learnt more about what it meant for Jesus to 'wipe our slate clean at 0-0' so that we could recover from our mistakes.

Bob leading both teams in Singspiration

After the pre-match proceedings, PMC proceeded to huddle for the all important team talk, focusing on playing with heart, and wanting the victory. The PMC team lined up as follows:

Martin

Jingzhong - Jacob - Rusydi

Isaiah - Dominic

Kee Min - Mark - Daniel Low

Maurice

Shah blowing for 1st half kick-off at Hai Sing Catholic School

Immediately from kick-off, PMC tried to impose themselves on the match. The long grass did not help matters, as it slowed down the pace of the ball, leading to some changes of possession for both sides. The 1st 5min of the match was quite even with the ball spending much time in the middle of the park, with no shots on goal. It was only after the 1st 5min that the PMC team was able to control the game a little better, with Jingzhong and Jacob heavily involved. Jingzhong was put through on goal, but his shot was weak, choosing to use his right foot instead of his left to shoot. Jacob provided a number of good crosses from the right, but there was no one in the box to meet them. Isaiah and Dominic were having a good game marshalling the middle of the park, and in defence, the back 4 was able to clear dangerous balls without Maurice having to make a significant save. On the odd occasion that the ball found its way into a dangerous position in the PMC box, Maurice was on hand to catch, or the BENS player made little out of it. As the 1st half reached the halfway mark, the only 2 significant attempts on goal had come from Dominic and Martin, both firing over the bar. It took a deadball situation to break the deadlock. Rusydi crossed the ball low from the corner and it evaded the BENS defence before Dominic fired it first time into the net with his right foot. With the 1st goal scored, the early jitters left PMC, who spent the rest of the 1st half pressing for the 2nd goal, which never came. As the referee blew for half-time, PMC knew that the match was theirs to lose. The half-time team talk focused on maintaining its dominance of the match, and to go for more goals in order to assure the victory.

The 2nd half kicked off with only 1 change in the PMC side, Kevin coming on for Kee Min at LB. It also began where the 1st half ended, with PMC dominating the match, mostly through midfield. BENS also signaled their intent for an equaliser, by playing up to 3 forwards at the beginning of the half. With extra men committed upfront by BENS, PMC found it easier to move the ball around but clear-cut chances were still few. PMC made its 2nd change of the match when Jacob left the field for Jeremy Sin (back from Korea!), with Dominic pushing up at AM and Jeremy sitting at DM. This move immediately brought dividends as Dominic found space up front on the right and crossed for Martin to take the ball in his stride and fire the ball into the net at close range. At 2-0 up, PMC continued to play with confidence and pressured BENS through a few corners. After 1 of them, BENS was unable to clear its lines and Isaiah was able to knock the ball back into the box for Jingzhong to place into the corner from just outside the 6-yard-box. Immediately from the kick-off after conceding the 3rd goal, BENS scored one of 'those' seemingly impossible goals. Firing the ball towards goal from kickoff, the soft, lofted ball appeared to have been left by Weijie for Maurice to collect (without any form of verbal communication). However, in what can only be described as a 'Robert Green moment', Maurice was slow to pick the ball (perhaps because he had expected Weijie to clear it), allowing it to roll through his hands and legs, and into goal. The BENS players reacted in disbelief, and so did the PMC players, at the 3-1 scoreline. Still ahead by 2 goals, PMC focused on the task of putting the match to bed, bringing on Steve for Martin and Neil for Jingzhong. PMC still had the lion's share of possession even though BENS tried to force an equalizer and brought on their only substitute and manager, Bob, to achieve this. However, tried as they could, the PMC back 4 held firm and when a BENS player handled in his own box, Isaiah stepped up to the penalty spot to put PMC 4-1, with a firmly struck penalty into the corner of the net. PMC brought on their final substitutes in Jeremy Tan (for Rusydi) and Lincoln (for Dominic) so as to keep the pressure on BENS. PMC did this well for the remaining 15min of the match and held on for the 4-1 victory.

During the post-match team talk, Kevin commended the team for a job well done, even though some of the ghetto-style defending was unnecessary with PMC being 3 goals up. As the results of the other matches filtered in, PMC moved up to 4th place in the table, as CMC lost to CAG 4-1. This virtually confirmed PMC's place in the knock-out stages even though mathematically, there was still a chance for PMC to drop back to 5th place if it collected too many yellow cards in its final match against AMC. Maurice closed the session in prayer, thanking God for the victory and keeping the team injury-free.

CRC2012 Match #5: PMC vs CBC (5th August)

It was another scorching Sunday afternoon as the PMC team gathered at Coral Secondary School for the crucial match of its CRC2012 campaign. Knowing that only a win would do to keep its hope of qualifying for the knock-out stages, the players turned up at the school early, even before the field wardens arrived to open the gate. Players from both sides arrived ahead of time, and warmed up on the nice Coral Secondary synthetic turf. When it was time for Singspiration and Sharing, Kevin led players in 2 songs and shared about how the example of Olympic athletes could help us reflect on what we value in life, based on how much time/effort we spend on these things.

PMC players warming up on the very nice Coral Secondary turf

Rusydi kitting up on the nice soft turf

The teams took a couple of minutes for their team talks. The PMC team was urged to focus on their game and go for the goals, despite having 5 players missing from the previous week's team. Still, the team was strong enough to compete and do well. The starting 11 for the match was:

Martin

Jingzhong - Timothy - Rusydi

Isaiah - Jacob

Kevin - Mark - Daniel Low

Weijie 

Sean

After the pre-match proceedings, referee Ruslee got the starting 11s for the kit checks and blew his whistle, with PMC kicking off in the 1st half. PMC's desire to win was evident from kickoff, with Timothy almost scoring from the first wave of attack. Taking the ball slightly to the left edge of the 18-yard-box, Timothy swiveled and curled a left foot shot, only to see it come back against the bar. Not discouraged, Timothy continued to be an attacking threat, taking the ball strong into the box in his next move, only to be brought down hard and winning PMC a penalty. Martin stepped up to the spot, but fired his shot wide of the GK's right-hand post, when everyone expected PMC to be 1-0. With nothing to show for wave after wave of attack in CBC's half, PMC players continued to encourage one another to not let their heads drop. The breakthrough finally came around the 15th minute when a long ball from Isaiah found Martin in the box. Holding off his defender well, he controlled the ball and placed it beyond the onrushing GK to put PMC 1-0 up. Not sitting on its lead, PMC continued to press on for more and the 2nd goal arrived via classic direct football. From the goalkick, Weijie played the ball to Kevin at LB, who found Jingzhong. Looking up, Jingzhong spotted Rusydi's run into the box and his right foot cross found Rusydi, who calmly controlled the ball and placed it into the corner of the goal. Being 2-0 down early in the game, CBC used a number of long balls and forays down the wing to threaten the PMC goal, but these were well cut out by Mark and Weijie. A scare did take place when Sean was about to meet a long grounder from CBC, but suddenly pulled up, clutching his ankle, as the ball rolled wide of the goal. Michael came on for Sean, who was unable to carry on. For most of the 1st half, PMC continued to threaten, but could not find the back of the net again, despite 2 clear-cut chances created by Timothy. Playing reverse passes to Jingzhong (now on the right flank), he was unable to finish with only the GK to beat on both occasions. As the referee blew the whistle for half-time, PMC knew that they should have been at least 5 goals up, but were content to be leading in the crucial match.

The half-time team talked focus on keeping composure in the 2nd half and to hold or extend the lead if possible. Kevin encouraged the team not to be discouraged even if they missed 'easy' goals but learn from the example of veterans like Martin, who continued to press for a goal, despite missing the penalty. The only change at half-time was Marcus coming on for Timothy. The players took the field with confidence, even though they knew that CBC would be pressing for the equalizer from the whistle. This expectation was realized as CBC took the game directly to PMC in the 2nd half, using the direct style of long balls and incursions down both flanks. For most part of the half, the PMC defensive foursome did well enough to hold the CBC attackers. Weijie in particular, was confident in his instructions and reading of the game. When Michael was called to be the final line of defense, he was up to the task. On offense, PMC did not offer much and was also not holding the ball well, prompting changes to be made, with Jacob leaving the pitch for Kee Min, then David coming on for Jingzhong. Match proceedings remained much the same, with CBC pressing hard for a goal, but to no avail. Rusydi then left the pitch for Lincoln, followed by Martin for Yi Jun, then Nigel for Kevin. With all changes made, PMC continued to defend stoutly and conceded only in the 75th minute of play. The CBC attacker on their right flank took the ball to the touchline and crossed it for a free man on the edge of the box, whose shot took a wicked deflection off Daniel and wrong-footed Michael. With less than 5min left of the game, CBC fought hard for the equalizer, with throw-ins and corners to pressure the PMC defence. It was a great relief to the PMC team when the referee blew for full-time, ensuring that PMC took home all 3 points.

During the post-match team talk, Kevin emphasized the good work done and that mission had been accomplished, despite the nervy final minutes of the match. Players then shared their views on how to improve 2nd half performances while balancing the introduction of bench players. Mark closed the session with prayer.

 

Rusydi sharing his thoughts during the post-match debrief

As results filtered in after the match, PMC still found itself in 5th place despite closing the gap to 1 point. With 2 more match days remaining, it appears that the top 5 teams have all to play for in order to secure the 4 spots available for the knock-out stages. 

CRC2012 Alpha Group League Standings (after Match Day #6)

Not so good news also came later that evening when Sean was diagnosed to have torn his Achilles Tendon, ruling him out for the rest of the season. The thoughts and prayers of the entire PMC Soccer Community will be with him as he recovers.