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.