CRC2013 Match #8 Report: PMC vs BENS (28th July)

It didn't seem so long ago that the PMC Soccer Team started their season at Anderson Secondary School. On that day, a tough match against NCC ended in a 1-0 defeat and started PMC's worst run of win-less matches. 15 players arrived at Anderson Secondary to ensure that streak did not enter into its 8th match, determined to finish the league season on a winning note. 

As the home team, PMC started off the session with 2 songs and a message by Jeremy Sin, sharing about how faith in God can change our lives.

 Jeremy Sin sharing the Christian message to both teams

The PMC team united in purpose before kick-off

The PMC team stuck to its tried and tested formula of 4-2-3-1 in the following line-up:

Jeremy Tan

Kevin - Steve - Yi Jun

Kee Min - Jacob

Damien - Jeremy Sin - Daniel Low

Weijie

David Lim

For the first 20min of the 1st half, PMC clearly was the better side, having almost all of the possession and keeping the ball in BENS' half for the 1st goal. However, most attempts to threaten BENS did not even result in a shot on target. Many balls were pumped forward to Jeremy Tan to chase, but these were either cleared by the defence or Jeremy Tan fouled the defender while trying to win the ball. There were half chances here and there, but largely the final ball in the box was disappointed, leaving nothing much for the forward players to latch onto. The most positive move was a long throw in the box to Jacob, who pulled the defence apart and laid off a back heel to Kee Min which was just slightly too long for him to make a serious attempt on goal. PMC was thus, almost sucker-punched, not once, not twice, but 3 times when BENS allowed 3 golden opportunities to pass them by. First, a BENS corner found its way straight to the head of their on-rushing CB, but he headed the ball way over the bar without anyone challenging him for the ball. The next 2 were in some ways courtesy of the referees decision to play advantage to the attacking player. 2 long balls found BENS forwards beating PMC's offside line, and with the defence completely rooted, it was David Lim who saved the team twice in one-on-one situations with reflex saves. It was thus quite a relief when the referee blew for half-time at 0-0. PMC knew that they had not converted their possession into goals and were fortunate to not be 2 goals down at the half.

The half-time team talk focused the team on playing the game, and to the call of the referee, instead of being frustrated by inaccurate decisions and stopping play unnecessarily. With that in mind, and encouragement to put more balls into the box, the PMC team went back onto the field with only 1 change - Jeremy Tan coming off, with Steve moving to CF, Kee Min to AM and Samuel coming on as DM. Kevin and Damien also swapped roles to keep things fresh on the left flank.

The changes seem to work in PMC's favour as from the kick-off, it was PMC that threatened again, with most of the possession. It took a corner kick to threaten BENS firmly and another one to finally break the deadlock in PMC's favour. Damien's first in-swinging curler beat the entire BENS defence and landed right on Steve's head, only for him to head it high above the bar, just as the BENS player did in the 1st half. Damien's 2nd corner finally did it, when Yi Jun guided the ball expertly into the top of the net with his head, to put PMC up 1-0 and looking good for the win. Of course, BENS did not sit back, but continued to threaten. PMC continued to change things up, with Jeremy Sin and Jacob swapping roles, and Kevin/Damien inter-changing on the left flank. PMC also brought on Daniel Chen for Steve, with Yi Jun moving to CF. With his first touch of the ball, Daniel Chen showed his technique by delivering an accurate cross into the box for Yi Jun to almost latch on to. PMC's 3rd substitution was Joel coming on for Yi Jun, who had a good game. Joel and Kee Min continued to press for the 2nd goal to put the match away. This finally came when Daniel Low delivered a nice cross on the right. With only the GK to beat, both Kee Min and Joel got initial shots saved before Joel got the decisive touch to send the ball into the net. With the score at 2-0, PMC was breathing slightly easier, allowing Michael to come on for Damien, and head between the sticks, giving David Lim some time at LM. PMC tried to keep-ball for the rest of the match, and was also stout in defending as BENS threw everything they had at the PMC goal. It was a rewarding feeling when the referee blew for full-time, giving victory to PMC. 

It was congratulations all around during the post-match team talk and Samuel closed in prayer.