Friendly Match Report: PMC vs CMC (22nd June)

PMC met a very familiar CMC side for the second friendly of the year between the 2 sides at St Patricks Secondary School. PMC had a team of 16 players, including Issac's friend Jinwei, who had impressed at our last friendly. As we intended to make use of this friendly to prepare for our next CRC match, the starting line-up prioritized on those who will be available for the 6th July encounter with EBC. Kevin opened us in prayer.

PMC line-up:

Michael

Samuel - Felix - Sheldon - Wei En

Kevin - Kee Min

Justin - Rusydi - Issac

Jeremy Tan

PMC started the match brightly as we were able to contain CMC's wing play and built on to our own passing game from the midfield. Our lone striker Jeremy Tan had caused some problem to CMC defence from his fast and strong pressing up-front and on one occasion, he almost got the ball from CMC's last defender. After 15mins of controlled-play from PMC, CMC seemed to get back into the game and started to launch their attacks from both wings but most of the balls were successfully cleared by our defensive quartet led by the new central pairing in Felix and Sheldon, with Michael making a couple of good saves. At the 25th minute, JZ came on for Wei En with Issac dropped to LB, and Joel also came on for Justin. It was quite an evenly matched game between the 2 sides before an excellent through-ball from Rus found JZ free and he made no mistake with only keeper to beat. After which, Kevin had 2 great opportunities to improve our lead but both efforts narrowly missed the goal. The first half ended with PMC leading by a goal.

PMC made many changes to the second-half line-up:

Michael

Daniel - Kevin - Sheldon - Issac

Samuel - Kee Min

Joel - Jin Wei - JZ

David Lim

PMC again started the match strongly and our second goal arrived very early into the second half when an accurate cross from Joel on the right was met by a tap-in from JZ in the box. CMC made some changes to their attacking trio with the pacy Sam leading the attack. These changes came into effect almost immediately when Sam was able to break through PMC's high defensive line twice and helped CMC to level the score. At the 15th minute, Jacob came in for Joel, Justin came on for JZ and Rus came on for Jin Wei soon after. CMC's third goal came when a back-pass from Justin was robbed by a CMC attacker and he scored from close-range. PMC tried to get back into the game but to no avail. CMC's 4th goal was from a corner where the player was not man-marked tightly in the near post. PMC's final changes were made with Jin Wei came in for Samuel and Shel swapping positions with Kee. There were some attempts to find David Lim up-front but most of the balls were either too far for him to reach or he was being caught offside. At the last few minutes of the game, PMC conceded 2 more and the final scoreline was PMC 2: 6 CMC.

All had a good run-out today and we had experimented some role changes in preparation for our necxt CRC match. Jacob closed in prayer.

CRC2014 Match Report #6: PMC vs COS (15th June)

PMC turned up to face one of the leading teams in this year's CRC with a slightly depleted team, with quite a number of players out injured or away travelling. Nonetheless, the team turned up at Bendemeer Secondary with lots of confidence, hoping for a good showing. The pre-match proceedings were led by COS, a time of praise and sharing of a testimony by Lemuel, who spoke about how knowing God personally had changed his life. 

The PMC lined-up as follows:

Joel

Rusydi - Kevin - Samuel

Kee Min - Sheldon

Damien - Weijie - Jeremy Sin - Daniel Low

Michael

The match started at quite a frenetic pace, given the youthful age of the COS team, and the pace and ability of their players. It was clear that they were confident on the ball, able to spread play smoothly and were confident to attack via the wings or the middle. Not the first time this season, PMC found itself using the 'soak and strike' approach, to pretty good effect, as it kept COS at bay for most of the half, and also created a few chances on the fast break. Match proceedings were quite even in the first half, and COS only managed a breakthrough via the same manner that BNP did a couple of weeks earlier, through a free kick. This time, it was COS' top scorer who rose highest to nod home the goal mid-way through the first half. The resilient PMC team, having made comebacks many a time this season, continued to prod their way upfield. The team's best chance in the first half fell to the boot of Damien, whose free kick was tipped onto the crossbar by the COS GK, denying Damien his first goal of the season. David Sng, who had come on for Joel, also had a number of half-chances to chase, but nothing came out of them. The half ended with COS in the lead at 1-0.

The half-time team talk focused on keeping the team focused on pressing for a goal, despite being outplayed technically and tactically by COS. Isaac came on for Sheldon at the half, going to LM, with Rusydi moving inside to AM, and Kevin falling back to DM alongside Kee Min. The early minutes of the 2nd half proved to be another tight affair but after COS scored their second goal, it seemed the floodgates started to open in their favour. This came through a good run and shot by a COS player. Although Michael had parried the stiff shot well, the defence stood rooted at the COS player followed up nicely to place the ball into the net. Following that, COS got another goal through some neat wing play and nice finish. COS' fourth goal came through the route of a direct free-kick, which was rifled directly into the roof to the net. PMC did try to prod away at 4-0 down, and the best chance fell to Jeremy Tan, who ran onto a short pass by the COS defence, and found himself in a one-on-one situation with the COS GK. However, his toe-poke just went wide. The final nail in PMC's coffin came via the penalty spot. Daniel Low's last ditch tackle in the box saw him take out the COS player as well, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Michael saved well from the COS player, but again, the COS player was fastest to the ball to put away the rebound. 

In addition to the 5-0 loss, PMC players had also picked up 5 yellow cards in the match through some ill-discipline and poor decision-making. There were lots of learning points from the worst defeat of the season, and Sheldon summed it up well by encouraging all to note stop learning to become better players. Samuel closed in prayer at the end of the team-talk. 

CRC2014 Match Report #5: PMC vs BFEC (8th June)

A rescheduled match from 2 weeks ago due to bad weather in unfamiliar Woodlands brought the team to another new ground in SIA sports center at Changi, a full size astro pitch turf much bigger than the typical MOE secondary school fields. As it’s the June school holidays now, depth of the team is severely tested, coupled with last minute withdrawals on matchday itself. A slight drizzle before the game was not enough to cool the hot weather as the sun was blazing almost immediately.

PMC was assigned the ‘home team’ on a ground that BFEC are definitely more familiar with. Being the home team, Maurice led the singspiration followed by a short devotion by Jacob. With the World Cup around the corner, Jacob begin by sharing the infamous goal from Maradonna when he scored with his hands. Scripture from Ecclesiastes 10:1, As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour. As good as Maradona was with his skills, that ‘handball’ brought labels like ‘cheater’ to his reputation. It is easy for each of us to be tempted and succumb to sin in our everyday life. We should always stay guarded and on the contrary, every little good things we do will actually bring much hope and happiness to the people around us. Sunday was also PMC anniversary, and as Jocob shared, church members went around Pasir Ris to give residents little gifts, smiles reciprocating from the residents are definitely a heartening thing to be felt. BFEC close the sharing with an opening prayer and both teams got together for a photo taking session.

Much adjustments were made to the team as a couple of players could not make it. PMC started a strong team as always:

Joel

Damien - WeiJie - Jem Sin - Daniel

Sheldon - KeeMin

Issac - Tim - JingZhong

Jem Tan 

BFEC kick-off the first-half as PMC chose the side without facing the glaring sun. PMC was able to get into game very fast, dominating the opening 10 minutes and pushing BFEC in their half. The midfield 5 won their individual battle and press BFEC hard, attacking down BFEC on either flanks and exposing BFEC fullbacks weakness. JZ easily outpace BFEC leftback on many occasion and combine well with Jem Tan to manage a couple of early shots. On the other end, Issac is able to twist and turn BFEC's right back, and combining with Damien, they both whip in many early crosses, one of which JZ is able to arrive late at the far post but failed to find the net. Hence it is no surprise that all this pressure and dominance soon brought PMC the first goal. Winning the ball in the middle, Sheldon sent an early ball down the right flank for JZ to latch on. A good first touch and a burst of pace brought JZ into the penalty box as BFEC leftback was left for dead. JZ's cutback managed to find Jem Tan, who sidefooted low and hard into the bottom left corner.

BFEC seemed to have woken up and got into their rhythm of passing play. Their key strength lies in the captain who played on the left flank. Everytime BFEC win back the ball, they would spread the ball down BFEC left flank to find their pacy captain. Long diagonal balls soon became the norm of play for BFEC as they try to play the ball between PMC back line, but PMC defence stood firm and covered all possible angle. Dan was always adequately covered by Jem should BFEC captain sprint past him, and equally on the other side when the long diagonal ball beat Damien, WJ was there to cover. BFEC started to become frustrated and attempted to enrage PMC players on any possible fouls and subsequent stoppages, they would snap at the referees for any decisions gone against them. PMC held off the late surges from BFEC to halftime.

HT: PMC 1 BFEC 0.

BFEC's big squad allow them to make a couple of changes while PMC begin the second half with the same team. It is PMC's turn to face the blazing sun and abit of a relief for BFEC to have the sun on their backs. PMC kickoff and straight away BFEC were closing down very quickly. They managed to intercept and very quickly before PMC could recover, BFEC had a 2 v 2 scenerio down the middle. Jem attempted to rush out to close the angle but was too late in stopping the through ball from BFEC captain that split PMC defence. The ball reached the mobile BFEC striker who calmly slot it past Joel. BFEC continue the high tempo start to the second half, dominating PMC tired midfield and sending splitting balls through the defence. Another such ball found the captain who sprinted past from the back of Jem to collect the ball. WJ make a last ditch tackle to block the shot and clear the ball. Unfortunately the clearance hit a clueless Jem from close and it rebounded nicely to the path of a stalking BFEC striker to put their team 2-1 up. PMC begin the substitution to give some much needed legs in the middle, as Eddie and WeiEn came on for Sheldon and Tim. An injury to Isaac brought injury plagued Jacob, who is still suffering from chest pain in the last game, onto the field moments later. JZ came out for Felix as well as his knees can no longer last the intensity of the game. Soon after, a heavy challenge on Jacob had Jacob sprawling on the floor clutching his chest and medic was rushed onto the field. Thankfully, Jacob is able to shake off the pain after catching his breathe again on the ground.

BFEC continue to make their changes as the heat wear off their players and they were now content to sit back and simply launch counter attacks via their pacy captain. PMC tried to launch attacks on BFEC goal but nothing productive can be make of the front players now. The best effort came from a free kick earned on the right corner outside of the box. It was a territory perfect for a left-footed strike and Damien delivered the free-kick to perfection. Almost too perfect that it beat everyone as well as the goal keeper but hit the underside of the bar. All of us thought for a moment that it was definitely going in, awwed by the flight of the free-kick. BFEC held out the last minutes and referee soon brought an end to a very hot afternoon.

FT: PMC 1 BFEC 2.