Friendly: PMC vs COS (19th January)

The 2nd friendly of the new year was with PMC vs COS, Church of Singapore, made up of players from churches such as RLC and NCC. It was a windy Sunday afternoon and PMC squad turned up with a full squad of 20 players with varying ages, whereas RLC came equipped with a thinner, but clearly younger squad. The key objective of the friendly was to ensure that all 20 players had a decent run-out and to get match fit for the new season in March.

PMC started off very well, controlling the ball well in midfield, despite initial robust challenges from ROC. The DM pairing of Sheldon and Timothy was holding the ball well, and Kee Min in his new AM role was winning the ball high up the pitch. It was certainly a good start for PMC when a corner found its way to Isaac, who made no mistake from close range, for his 2nd goal in as many games this season. Sensing that it made a good start to the match, PMC kept up the pressure, but as COS settled, they played much better passing football, using their wings to good effect and threatening a number of times through their pacy wingers and forwards. It was on one of their forays that a cross was insufficiently cleared, leading to a shot from outside the box beating everyone as well as Michael in goal. COS took the wind in their sails to put pressure on the PMC goal. What PMC could do was to clear the ball for Isaiah to chase or hold, but clearly the match was going the way of COS. Before the half was done, COS took the lead through an excellent move down their right wing, with a whipped cross ending with a glancing header into the PMC goal. At 2-1, the match was still open, and PMC re-grouped at half-time to try to get back into it.

Many changes were made in the 2nd half to ensure that everyone got a run out. The 2nd half played out very much in the same way as the 1st half, even ending with the same scoreline of 2-1 in favour of COS. This time it was COS who scored twice early in the half to lead 4-1, before a massive PMC fightback heaped tons of pressure on the COS goal, leading to Isaiah's low cross finding Yi Jun for PMC's 2nd goal. From there, PMC sent wave after wave of attack. Jingzhong, Yi Jun and Isaiah all had good chances to score, but were denied or missed.

Overall, it was a positive display, but defensively, improvements are needed before the season kicks off.

Soccer Fellowship Report (11th January)

Around 18 players turned up for the first Soccer Fellowship of 2014 at Hai Sing Catholic School. Devotion was based on Galatians 5:22-23, it says " the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control". Some aspects of the fruit in us may not be well-developed yet and as we entered 2014, all are encouraged to seek God for further development in areas that we are still lacking. Before the game began, Kevin highlighted a few key points that we need to take note, namely the need to release the ball early and also to find space to receive the ball.

The return of Isaac! 

Listening to devotions before start of Fellowship

Listening to devotions before start of Fellowship

Teams were split according to their colour tops, with the Whites against the Colours. Just as we stepped onto the field, heavy rain followed and it lasted for about 10mins before the sun made its timely return. By then, the players were mostly soaked with the rainwater. The game started brightly for the Colours as they were able to organise well from the back and spaces were found on both flanks. Goals were scored in good numbers and the Whites could only launch some counter-attacks to minimise the deficit. By half-time, the scoreline was 7-3 to the Colours. One of the veteran player, John, has scored a hat-trick for the Colours before the first half ended.

Playing in the rain

The Whites were the dominant side in the second half but numerous chances were not converted, and thus did not bring the scoreline to level terms. All had a good run this afternoon and the team will be up against our Pasir Ris rival Riverlife Church next Sunday. Jem closed us in prayer.

Friendly: PMC v BEFC (5th January)

First game of 2014 gather many familiar faces once again after an approximate 2 months of football break to a new field many never played on before in Tanjong Katong Secondary School. Cooling light drizzle welcome team PMC, with age group varying from O-level candidate all the way to 60 plus fighting strong white-hair warriors. Our opponents BFEC turned up in full force, and 1 look across its easy to guess the mean age to be 20s, all young and pacy. Being unfamiliar to this pitch, the match was delayed as PMC players try to navigate their way over to the pitch. Hence the starting 11 was whoever turns up earlier.

PMC starting 11:

Joel

Jacob-Jem-Isaiah-David

Lincoln-Ryusdi-KM-Issac

Tim

Ramon

Game started off scrappily as both sides tries to accustom to the wet conditions, with the ball skidding off the surface on numerous occasions. First ten minutes of the game shows much rustiness in our touches, control and passing, admidst our eagerness to get onto the ball. As the game wore on, Tim, Ryus and Jacob managed to win abit of the midfield battle but possesion still seems fairly equal to both sides. BEFC managed to break the deadlock first when a scrappy ball down the right beat David and managed to find its way to BEFC striker who beat the offside trap to place the ball past Joel. Midway through the half, players were rotated as Michael came in for Joel in goal with Joel moving outfield to rightback, Felix came in for Jem at the back, Kevin went in for David at leftback and Eddie went on for Isaiah upfront. BEFC second came when a throw-in on the right was intercepted and quickly played in behind Joel and sent the striker through whose finishing was good enough to beat Michael. Not long after, backpass to BEFC goalie was quickly close down by Issac and managed to nick it past BEFC goalie to end first half at BEFC 2 PMC 1.

PMC 2nd-half:

Michael

David-Jem-Felix-Kevin

Lincoln-Isaiah-KM-Ryusdi

Jacob

Tim

PMC started the second half strongly, winning lots of balls in the middle and pegging BEFC for long periods of time in their own half. Lincoln was able to beat BEFC leftback on numerous occasion, Ryus had a few runs equally down the left, Isaiah and Jacob bossed the midfield coupled with shots on target but just not enough to finish it. At the back Jem and Felix dealt with any balls that was tried to fed behind the line. Unfortunately inabilty to finish cost us as BEFC slowly start to get back into the half. A freekick on the left was finished off the right post brought BEFC their third. Rotating all 15players available for PMC, Joel came on for David, Ramon came on for Tim, Issac came on for Isaiah. Minutes later, a freekick on the right was miskicked to the path of BEFC striker and the striker easily give thanks to the gift and slot it past Michael. Jacob suffered knocks towards the end of the half and was replaced by Eddie. BEFC ended the game with a fifth goal as PMC shape breaks in pushing forward.

Results definitely did not reflect PMC performance, even as everyone tries to get their match fitness back. Overall still a good start to 2014 as we can see signs of good play on the field with the commitment and the drive. Season does not start till March and PMC has lined up more friendlies and fellowship for all so i urge the PMC community to come down for all sessions and commit in 2014.

Blessed new year one and all.

Photos by Ivena Chew.