Agape Cup Match #7 Report: PMC vs WMC (12 Jun)

What a finale ending to PMC's participation in Agage Cup. To begin with, it was a very young PMC team that took on the field against WMC. JZ and Dan were fortunately able to join us for a couple of hours away from work for the last game of the season, before rushing back to work again. Also back in the stands is Neil, who was unfortunately not able to get on the field after still feeling something not right with his knees during the warmup.

PMC kicked off the match in high tempo, easily straying passes around and WMC cant seem to get out of their half for the first 10 minutes. Dom and KM easily won the midfield battle, with Steve winning the aerial balls, and Marcus, JZ and Rusdyi were able to contantly run the ball at WMC defence. Unfortunately PMC was unable to make their domination count.

It took quite a long time for WMC to get their act together. Knowing they cant beat PMC midfield, WMC chose the long ball directly over PMC defence. This caught both Jem and WJ a couple of times. And so it was from 1 such long ball that resulted in the opening goal. A straight long ball was challenged by Jem and a WMC striker. Unfortunately the ball flew over both of them and came to WJ and another WMC forward. Awkward bounce of the ball seems to have the ball come in between the 2 of them and unfortunately 'kissed' WJ hands unknowingly. Dubious or not, the referee chose to blow the whistle and point to the spot, which was subsequently converted by WMC.

Things start to get more heated after the restart, as challenges start to fly in. PMC was winning alot of freekicks, but to no avail. A lunge by WMC RM on Marcus's ankle resulted in Marcus's outburst and subsequently the match first yellow card. Shortly after, halftime whistle came. Aside from the soft goal conceded, PMC were clearly the better team.

No changes at the start of the 2nd half as Marcus is able to run-off the 1st half challenge. 2nd half continued where it ended before halftime, with challenges coming in from everywhere and temper begin to flare everywhere. PMC was winning alot of freekicks again but could not find the equaliser. Dan was next into the books, again for lashing out at the referee. Shortly after, a quick throw by WMC and a deft pass to WMC ST drifting behind Jem found him 1 v 1 with Kel and he could do nothing about it.

Since its the last game, everyone got a runout as the subs start rolling. Steve was first to make way for Lincoln, before WJ withdrawl for Joel and Dan came out for Sam. Lots of late game drama as PMC managed a goal back in the last 10 minutes, once again pegging WMC in their box. Some scuffle in the box, with Lincoln assisting with a crucial pass to Ryusdi and he cooly slammed the ball past a sea of players into the bottom corner. Shortly after the restart, an overhead kick cross from marcus back into the box somehow reach JZ, and he blast his shot towards goal, beating the GK, only for it to crash against the crossbar and rebound back safely into the arms of WMC GK. Seems like Deja vu of a simiar situation happening to Sean in the last game, only the ball failed to bounced across the goal line.

Overall, Kel was hardly tested, 1st goal down to bad luck, and 2nd due to a short switchoff at the back, and the whole team put in a very good effort in trying to get back into the game. Till the next season, adios!

Final Score: PMC 1 WMC 2

Lineup:
GK - Kelvin
RB - Daniel ; CB - Jem , Wei Jie ; LB - Damien
RM - Ryusdi ; CM - Domonic , Kee Min ; LM - Marcus
ST - Steve , JZ

Soccer Fellowship Report (4th June)

It was one of those days when the Sports Council Field Manager seemed to have his own set of rules to determine what an unplayable field looked like. Making a call to John Chia at about 1230pm (2.5h before SF) following some showers in the morning, he explained that the field was waterlogged and unplayable. Appeals to wait for the water to be dried up by the heat fell on deaf ears, as he claimed 'higher authorities' had made the call for such conditions. An email, a post on the blog, SMSes and WhatsApp messages were furiously sent out to inform as many people as possible.

Wanting to verify the Field Manager's claim of the pitch's condition, I took a stroll to Greenview Secondary for an 'inspection'. As the photos below attest, besides a small pool of water in front of one of the goals, the field looked dry and possibly even drier than some of the fields we've been allowed to play on in the past.

Side view of the field from just before the entrance

Top view of the field from the 9th floor of the HDB block

View of the field from behind the goal

Walking away from the school, I bumped into Adrian Tan, who was wondering where everyone else was. I had explained the situation and I guess many would not have thought the field booking would have been cancelled as it was hot and sunny since 1230pm. We walked to Pasir Ris Primary School to check out the 'Free-to-Play' field (Astro Turf) and found it to be open, with many from the Pasir Ris East community already there to kickaround. SMSes and WhatsApp messages were sent out to our players living in the East to see if they would be interested to have a kick and quite a number responded.

In total, 11 players turned up from the Soccer Community to have a kickaround with folks from the Pasir Ris East area. Steve, Choon Heng, Adrian Tan, Brian, Benny, Lester, Tim Loke, Daniel, Jingzhong, Lincoln and myself had a good run-out and it was unfortunate more could not join us as they had made plans following the original message to say the field had been cancelled.

We formed a team to play 'first to 2 goals win' and had a good time against some of the 'locals'. The Astro Turf pitch was excellent and there was even a 5-a-side Futsal sized pitch on the compound. Next time our Greenview field booking is cancelled, we'll stay on to play at Pasir Ris Primary.

Folks from the Pasir Ris East community

Adrian Tan and Choon Heng enjoying the Astro Turf

Daniel, Lincoln and Jingzhong after our run-out

Soccer Fellowship CANCELLED as SSC has deemed the field too wet to play on.

Soccer Fellowship (4th June)

Soccer Fellowship is on this Saturday, 4th June at Greenview Secondary School*.
This is the 1st time we are using Greenview Secondary, so do spend some time looking at how to get there, and leave home a bit earlier so as to get there on time!

The session will be from 3 - 5 pm. Please bring BOTH a BRIGHT and DARK jersey so that we can split the teams evenly.

Please pray for good weather! If you suspect the session is cancelled, please check the blog/email for more information before you head for the field. Cancellation of session will be broadcast on the blog and by email immediately when we are informed by Sports Council.

*The address of Greenview Secondary Secondary School is 15 Pasir Ris Street 21. However, the entrance to the field, is along Drive 3. If you are driving, you should travel along Street 21 and park at the multi-storey carpark at block 245A. The closest bus-stops to the field are serviced by SBS 5, 6 & 89. The map of the area around the school can be viewed HERE.

Agape Cup Match #6 Report: PMC vs HP (29 May)

This was a game that PMC knew was important to their continuation into the cup stages of the tournament. Hiding Place being the opposition, their playing style was no secret to us. A win would almost certainly ensure progression for PMC. As the team prepared, despite being short of a few players, a sense of determination prevailed.

After S&S, a few short words from Kevin of encouragement and the starting line-up took to the pitch in a 4-4-2 formation, with a slight emphasis on attacking, with central midfield urged to push forward and support the front two.

Sean

Daniel - Maurice - Mark - Damien

Rusydi - Kee Min - Kevin - Marcus

Steve - Martin

The match started well, with PMC taking control and creating a few good chances. Both forwards, Martin and Steve had half chances, none better than a beautiful free-kick by Damien floated across to the back post, though Steve’s glancing header was held by the Hiding Place keeper. As the game settled down, PMC’s maturity and determination held, with good positional play across the back and with the midfields cancelling each other out. However, just before half-time a speculative long-range shot from a HP midfielder crashed down off the crossbar into the heels of PMC’s keeper and somehow managed to cross the goal-line. Harsh reward for a good first half performance by PMC. Half-time score 1-0.

Half-time talk was aimed at keeping players heads up and going back on to the pitch knowing they were far from being outplayed and that the game was there for the taking.

The second half started with the same 11, though within minutes the keepers were exchanged, followed by the two forwards being replaced. In fact over the next 10 minutes all 6 substitutes were used. However, despite this potentially having an unsettling effect of the shape of the team, PMC continued to play well, searching for the equalizer. Again maturity and composure was seen and PMC held its own for the next 20 minutes, though neither side created many scoring opportunities. Tireless running from Marcus and Kee Min, and solid defending from Damien and Daniel were notable performances from the PMC players.

However, as has been an Achilles Heel of PMC this season, the final 10 minutes saw HP break through twice with two well taken goals from their replacement centre forward, his pace and strength finally telling on the resolute PMC defense. So, final score 3-0 to HP, though the score-line felt flattering for the opposition, as PMC had played well and can take many positives from the game and can look forward to another good performance in two weeks time.

Reported by: Steve Flynn

Soccer Fellowship Report [21st May]

Afternoon these days have been crazily warm. Regardless, the usual soccer fanatic bunch of us still meetup for our weekly dosage of football kickabouts. Kevin started off the session with devotion. Using recent examples and rumours about an impending 'rapture' (especially by Harold Camping), he cited how the Bible informs all of us that we do not know when the end of the world would take place, or when exactly Jesus would return. Instead, we should ask ourselves where we are now in relation to Christ, and are we prepared to 'face our maker', whether the end was a day away.

SF started off without having goalkeepers in either side, which means goal could only be scored within the 6-yard box. This of course meant composure and precision is very much needed, since the 6 yard box is usually packed with people. Lots of running at the beginning from both sides, at least for the first 20 minutes or so. A couple more guys arrived abit later, and hence finally able to turn the play into a proper 11-a-side with goal-keeper game then. The heat probably caused the tempo of the game to slow down. Even so, goals are plentiful from both sides. Some very good play from both sides created some well taken goals. Could not really remember all the goals, probably 7-4 or 7-5, with ronnie grabbing a brace. Overall a very good run-out for everyone, especially so for a couple of us who has finally re-entered the frame after being absent for one reason or another. A big game awaits us in the coming sunday, and a win should see us more or less having the chance to be involved in the tournament longer than previous.

Soccer Fellowship [21st May]

Soccer Fellowship is on this Saturday, 21st May at East View Secondary School*.
The session will be from 3 - 5 pm. Please bring BOTH a BRIGHT and DARK jersey so that we can split the teams evenly.

Please pray for good weather! If you suspect the session is cancelled, please check the blog/email for more information before you head for the field. Cancellation of session will be broadcast on the blog and by email immediately when we are informed by Sports Council.
*The address of East View Secondary Secondary School is 3 Tampines Street 42. The entrance to the field however, is along Street 41 (directly across the street from block 428). If you are driving, you should turn into Street 41 from Tampines Avenue 7. I would suggest parking at the open-air car park around blocks 425, 428 & 429. The map of the area around the school can be viewed HERE.

AGAPE CUP 2011 Match 5 PMC vs COA 3pm.

Hi all, I hereby apologise for the late updates for this match due to school work committments.

In this match, both teams played to their strengths as much as they can muster. Both sides tried to play smooth passing football and it really goes from one end to the other. In the first half, though, our PMC team gradually took control of the midfield and dominated a good three quarters of the time. Plenty of times we saw our shots either well-saved by the COA's goalkeeper or missed by centimetres of goal mouth. I remembered Daniel exploited the space on COA's left with great pace and receiving a good pass from either Dominic or Rusydi (I cannot remember at this moment) before cutting quickly into the center on the edge of the penalty area. He then unleashed a curling shot (left leg, I think) just to see it go whistling pass the goal bar. Still, at the end of the second half, our team went 2 goals up This was courtesy of Martin's second attempted header for the first goal and a good shot for the second.

In the second half, the play was different as our PMC team was unsettled by some half-time changes and a resurgent COA team. The play was more balanced between the two sides with the ball flowing to and fro the two goal mouths. At the quarter of second half, we managed to score one more at COA's goal, again thanks to Martin's good reading of the game. Then PMC managed to gain abit of more control of the game before we conceded a goal: a narrow-angled shot from a COA player on our right.

We eventually we ended the match overall the 3-1 winner, but not before we received the scare of the match with a goal from COA being ruled offside.

Cooling down after the hard-fought match

Match Report from Friendly vs Brian's Team [7th May]

The very much anticipated Polling Day arrived and after casting our votes, we turned up at SAFRA Tampines to take on Brian's Team on the synthetic turf. Passers-by wondered if we were the 'Workers Party' team, decked out in our sky blue kit.

Although response to the friendly was good, none of the GKs could make it or turn up on time, so we thank Jeremy Tan who came down to play as GK in the 1st half. Even though it was a friendly, the referee called the teams to start the match rather promptly, requiring us to field whoever had turned up on time in the following 4-4-2 line-up:

Jeremy Tan

Samuel - Dominic - Maurice - Damien

Nigel - Kee Min - Kevin - Jingzhong

Steve - Martin

The field was definitely much bigger and allowed a bit more time and space to pass the ball around. Play was generally even during the 1st half, with both sides not able to penetrate well organised defences for the 1st 15 min or so. Whatever long balls or through passes were generally well handled by the respective GKs. PMC seemed like the more likely to score with Martin holding the ball up well and trying to get Steve into the mix. Brian's team spread the ball around well, but did not manage a single shot on goal. At the 30min mark, substitutions started to roll with Kevin coming off for Daniel and followed by Nigel, Wei Ern, Rusydi and David. It was towards the 2nd half that we made our break-through. A freekick on the edge of the box was well taken by Daniel, who curled it into the top right hand corner of the net. It was 1-0 to PMC. As Steve came off for a break, Kevin went back on to the field to bulk up the middle and hold the scoreline till the break.

Action on the SAFRA Tampines synthetic pitch

The bench getting ready to enter the fray

The 2nd half started in very positive fashion, much like the 1st, with good passing from both teams. It took some individual brilliance from Brian to level the score when he went on a run from defence and curled the ball out of Michael's reach to make it 1-1. Brian's Team took advantage of the momentum to lead 2-1, when a long ball led to a mix-up between Daniel and Dominic, allowing a forward to capitalise and beat Michael. The PMC team did not led their heads drop, but kept pressing for the equalizer. Substitutions were made to keep things fresh on the field. It was left to Rusydi to score the goal of the game. Played in on the left by Steve, Rusydi took the ball past the RB with his pace and fired the ball into the far side of the net with the outside of his foot. It was beauty! No other goals were scored and it was another positive outing for the team, with all players getting at least 30min of play under their belts. Well done everyone!

The team after the match

Soccer-For-Bibles, 2nd May 2011

It was a wet, dizzly morning as 18 teams met at the Tampines Practice Field for the Soccer-For-Bibles event. This event seeks to raise funds to organise Bible distribution trips to Cambodia, China and Vietnam. In 2007 and 2009, over $30,000 (approx 6000 copies of Bibles) was raised for Bible distribution in Cambodia and Myanmar.

The team representing PMC at this tournament were:

1) Maurice Lim
2) Michael Chua
3) Nigel Woo
4) Daniel Low
5) Steve Flynn
6) Marcus Tan
7) Jacob Che Xuan
8) Choo Jingzhong
9) Lincoln Tan
10)Lee Kee Min
11)Samuel Eyo

John and Wei En were also in attendance to support the team.

After a short worship and devotion, the matches kicked off. PMC was grouped together with AMC, CMC and St Andrew's Cathedral. Our first match against AMC (the defending champion) was closely contested and unfortunately, we lost narrowly 1-0. Our second game against CMC ended 0-0 as both teams failed to take their chances. With only one match remaining and an inferior goal difference to CMC, our only hope to enter the quarter-finals was to win our final game against St Andrew's and hope CMC lose to AMC by a larger margin.

As it turned out, we won our final game 1-0. A clearance deflected off Samuel fell nicely to Jing Zhong to tuck home. And courtesy of a 3-0 thrashing of CMC by AMC, PMC was through to the quarters! Our Quarter-final opponent were to be Cherith Baptist Church.

PMC started off the match brightly and was the more offensive of the two teams. PMC should have wrapped the game up as both Steve and Jing Zhong saw their shot and header respectively beat the goalie only to be denied by the crossbar. The final whistle went, signalling for the game to go into penalties.

The system for penalties seemed rather strange. Each team was to take 3 penalty kicks, after which if the result is a draw, another two kicks would be taken. If the result was still a draw, there would be a coin toss where the winner of the toss will decide to kick or defend. If the winner decides to kick and misses, then the opponent is declared the winner.

Undaunted, our 3 brave penalty heroes (Daniel, Jing Zhong and Steve) stepped up to the task. Our 4th penalty hero, Michael, of course did not have a choice as he stood bravely between the posts. Special commendation must be made of Michael who provided tremendously safe hands throughout the tournament.

The first 3 penalties ended in a draw but not without some 'controversy'. Michael saved one of the penalties as it was shot straight at him. However, the referee on the goalline adjudged Michael to have stepped forward before the shot was taken. The CBC penalty-taker retook the shot and scored. Daniel and Steve lined up to take the next two penalties for PMC. With both CBC takers and Daniel having scored, it was now left to Steve to even the score and the game to sudden death. Unfortunately, Steve's shot flew just over the crossbar to the jubilant shouts of CBC players.

So, PMC's march was halted at the Quarter-finals (both CMC teams went on to win in both the Cup and Plate competitions) but I was personally very proud of the team as they displayed teamwork, commitment and good sportsmanship throughout the competition. Well done to the team!

We'll be back......