Friendly Match Report: PMC vs ABC (23rd February)

PMC took on CRC newcomers ABC in its final pre-season match. It was a very hot afternoon, and the dust was really blowing from the botak Greenview Secondary turf. 22 players from PMC turned up to get some game time and to be put through their final paces in preparation for the league. The team was focused, with Maurice opening in prayer. After some pre-match team talk, the starting 11 line-up as follows:

Yi Jun

Isaac - Jingzhong - Rusydi

Kee Min - Sheldon

Damien - Weijie - Jacob - Samuel 

David Lim

The team started off well in terms of trying to control the game, and did not put a wrong foot forward. It was only let down by not stringing enough passes together, especially in the final third. When that did happen, someone would find himself in a dangerous position and/or be fouled and win a freekick. However, for most of the early exchanges, there were no clear-cut chances. ABC on the other hand, seemed to be happy to hit on the break, with some pacy wingers and forwards. The PMC defence marshalled by Weijie held firm, with not too much troubling them. However, the first warning sign for PMC came when an in-swinging corner found an ABC completely unmarked when he made his run into the box, resulting in a free header which he crashed against the bar. PMC was certainly let off with David beaten in goal, but the score remained 0-0. PMC continued to probe and although there were some good touches by the forward quartet, no clear cut chances were fashioned and no shots on target were made. This gave ABC the impetus to make the breakthrough, which they did from a corner that was identical to the one earlier. Another runner was completely unmarked when the corner was swung in, leaving him with the easiest task of tapping the ball into goal with his thigh as the defence stood rooted. Being 1-0 down did bring some added drive to PMC's play, but again, not many clear-cut chances were created. With 10min left in the first half, Daniel Low came on to replace Isaac for his return to the team. 

 One that Kee Min almost got to the end of

 Jacob defending like John Terry?

Weijie leads the defence by example

The half-time team talk focused on remaining positive, and to create more chances. Players were encouraged not to hold on to the ball too long, and to trust team mates with a pass. This seemed to have sunk in as the start of the 2nd half saw the team playing a lot more positively, with more completed passes. The changes in terms of Daniel Chen replacing Damien and Eddie replacing Yi Jun, also meant fresh legs. Michael also came into goal for David Lim. Although there was much action on the field, with PMC having the lion's share, there were only 1 or 2 chances for scoring, mostly falling to Jingzhong. However, he was often closed down quickly, or the bumpy pitch making the ball bobble before he could fire off. More changes were made to keep things fresh and the trio of Joel, Justin and Lincoln did well to create a number of chances, but these were not taken. Clearly against the run of play however, ABC scored their second of the game. A long ball into the box seemed to have been going out of play, but as Michael attempted to control the ball while it stayed in, he was robbed by the onrushing striker, who had the simplest of tasks to pass it into an empty net. Being 2-0 did not deflate PMC, but gave the team added impetus to press on for a goal. Again, doing good work on the right, Lincoln wove his way into the box and was fouled by the defender, allowing PMC to be awarded a penalty, which Daniel Low duly converted with aplomb. PMC drove on in search of an equaliser, with changes continuing to keep things fresh as well as maintain drive up the pitch. However, a second calamity struck PMC when a long ball launched from within ABC's half bounced in front of Michael and over his head into the net, making it 3-1 to ABC and killing off any hope that PMC had of a comeback. 

PMC may have ended the entire pre-season winless, but there were many times when PMC played positive football and showed glimpses of potential to do well. Consistency and better teamwork would be important aspects of the game to work on with the start of the league on 9 March. David Lim committed the team to the Lord as he closed in prayer. 

Soccer Fellowship Report (15th February)

After all the Chinese New Year eating, a huge turnout on a hot Saturday gathers once again at HSSS. WeiJie brought a couple of friends and Sam has a friend with us as well. Devotion was shared from Mark 11:20-26, highlighting the faithfulness of God and what having faith actually means.

Fellowship was split via colour tops, with about 11 "Blue" against 12 "Other colours"(OC). Amongst them from the competitive PMC team,"Other colours" has WJ, me, KM, David, Sam, Ryus; while "Blue" has Kevin, Shel, YJ, Eddie, Dan Chen. Other hardcore regular soccer fanatics who were present include uncle Ronnie, Uncle John and Nic.

The session started with about 10-a-side playing a "only score in 6-yard box" game, with no hands between the sticks. OC dominated early possession, with the ball spraying from left to right and back to left. Simple passing and built-up play from the back as Sam, Ryus, Uncle Ron tries to find pockets of space to build an attack. Blues were happy to soak up the pressure, as they dealt with the early through balls. David manage to break the deadlock first, loosing his marker and running on to a beautifully floated lofted pass by Ronnie into the 6-yard box and side-footed the opening. Shortly after, a couple more players joined the game and the session went back to a normal full field game with goal keepers and scoring from anywhere is allowed. OC continue to press and close Blues very quickly, denying them any opportunities to create anything with possession. First half ended with a couple more goals from the very influential Ronnie and the tireless KM.

Blues are able to come back into the game early in the second half, as they manage to keep possession and built up some play for awhile. Unfortunately the final third was not clinical and breaks down easily as WJ and I sooth any potential threat.With the sun baring down on everyone, both sides could not add any more goals in the net, with the intensity and the energy level dropping tremendously.

Overall, everyone had a good run-out, and especially pleasing is the attendance that allows such a nice friendly game to take place. Praise the Lord. Sam closed the session in prayer.

Friendly Match Report: PMC vs VFC (8th February)

The 'CNY-depleted' PMC team took on Victory Family Centre in a re-match of the final match of last season, when PMC triumphed 3-1 on a waterlogged pitch. 13 players turned up by kickoff, and another 2 joined in slightly later to make sure that PMC had enough players to firm up positions for the league starting in about a month's time. The team welcomed the return of Andy, and with Daniel Low out with a hamstring injury, Andy went straight into the starting line-up at RB. Samuel opened the session in prayer after Kevin briefed the players, starting the team as follows:

David Sng

Jingzhong - Rusydi - Lincoln

Kee Min - Samuel 

Kevin - Timothy - Andy

Weijie

Michael

The match kicked off with the worst possible start for PMC. From the first kick, VFC played a long ball to their striker on their right wing, who took the ball down and hit a first time cross-shot with no team mate in the box. Inexplicably, Michael misjudged the ball, allowing it to roll across him, and into the low corner of the net. Before any PMC could touch the ball, it was already 1-0 down. The PMC team composed itself and did well to work its way back into the match. Playing the ball on the bumpy ground to the feet, PMC was able to conjure up a half-chance or two. VFC's tactic was obviously different, playing long balls to the wings for its striker to chase, which mostly availed to nothing as Timothy and Weijie were able to clear the PMC lines effectively. PMC's main instigators in attack were Rusydi and Jingzhong, with Lincoln putting in a number of crosses and speculative efforts. The breakthrough came mid-way through the first half, when a glorious one-two move between Rusydi and Jingzhong allowed Jingzhong to beat the GK with a firm shot low into the net. At 1-1, it was game on for the rest of the half. After 30min, the first substitutions were made, with Jeremy Tan coming on for David Sng and Damien coming on for Kevin. PMC pressed to go ahead with more chances falling the way of Lincoln, Jeremy Tan and Lincoln, but none were converted. VFC threatened from set-pieces, having 2 clear-cut chances from corner kicks that found players wide open. PMC was unfortunately punished before half-time when a VFC through ball was played into the PMC box. Weijie approached it, but heard the call of Michael to leave it. However, before Michael could reach the ball, the nippy VFC striker got to the ball first and prodded it into the net. It was a cruel blow for PMC, who had the lion's share of attacking play, but found itself 2-1 down at the half. 

The half-time team talk focused on keeping composure and continuing to play well despite being unfortunately 2 goals down. The only half time change was Jacob coming on for Lincoln. At the start of the 2nd half, PMC was again the better team, stringing good passes and accounting for much of the attacking play. However, PMC found itself 3-1 down when a cross was punched backwards by Michael into the net. At that point, some frustration set into PMC's play but with encouragement to keep the shape, PMC started to play better again. At the 20th minute of the 2nd half, David Lim came on for Jeremy Tan and Kevin came on for Samuel. For almost all of the remaining time, PMC piled on the pressure with wave after wave of attack. VFC was left to soak up the pressure and only attack on the counter. The 2nd half break through came in fortunate circumstances. On one of the many attacks, a defender's clearance ricocheted off Kevin's face straight into Jingzhong's path, who fired in from close range. PMC went all out in the last 5min in search of an equaliser but to no avail. 

Even though the match was lost 3-2, the performance of the team was positive and continued to improve over the first 3 friendly games of the season. Everyone was encouraged to think about how they could better contribute in their various roles on the field. Timothy closed in prayer. 

Soccer Fellowship Report (26th January)

The turn-out for this edition of Soccer Fellowship was certainly affected by the upcoming festive season. Many were away preparing for the Chinese New Year weekend. However, at least 12 players turned up to have a friendly kickabout, with Andy Chua returning after some absence, and a couple of new faces from YMPACT. Samuel Pang started off the session with devotion, afterwhich the Reds lined up against the other colours. Play went on for about an hour before Jeremy Sin closed in prayer.