SCC vs Lions (4 - 1) Saturday 4th October 2008

Line up:

Young

Smith

Ong

Bowden

Rogers

Daud (sub: Azran)

Monaghan (sub: Lane)

Souiade

Alonso (sub: Wilson)

Hutcheon (sub: Davies)

McCarvel

Job Done with room for improvement for SCC!!

SCC returned to Tampines for their match against the Lions, a side known to give us trouble in the past. Owen had come down midweek to personally supervise the removal of the bees nest that cut short our game last week, but the pitch hadn't been touched and was very long in certain parts, which was to have an effect on the game later on.

We had a few players MIA or injured but such is the quality of the squad these days that we were able to call on the likes of Tommy and Adam to line up in a back 4. Owen was recalled back into midfield after starting last week on the bench, as was Nahar upfront.

The game began as a very open affair, the Lions started with a central midfield three that seemed determined to play football - it was a nice change for us to not face a team with 9 or more players behind the ball. The game was very end to end but there were no real chances from either side - the Lions had a half chance when their unmarked forward was first to a good free kick played into the area but he didnt get enough on it and Nahar and Hutch were making space upfront but our final ball in and around the area wasn't good enough.

Our first goal came for a speculative long ball. The Lions keeper came off his line but was caught short by the ball slowing down in the long grass and Hutch was in a position to pounce, rounding him and putting the ball in the back of the net. Nahar nearly did the same a couple of minutes later, but a combination of him slipping and a covering defender saw the ball trickling past the wrong side of the post.

As I personally missed a few balls over the top to due to them holding up more than expected, I can sympathise with the keeper. Mehdi made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time when he collected a throw in on the right wing, skipped past a defender and shot through a body of players into the bottom corner - a big goal in the context of the game.

The second half began and the Lions switched to a front two, opening up the centre of midfield even further which allowed both teams to run at each others defense. The Lions streamed forward 15 mins in and a tangle between the Lions forward and Kian Ann saw the ball fall to Adam, whose clearance caught Kelso under the ball. He could only flick it on and Hutch ran onto it and dispatched the ball for his 2nd goal of the game. The Lions got one back soon after we gave them too much time and space to run at the defense, but we got our fourth goal to seal off the game with around 20 mins left when JP sent in a good cross from the left that Nahar volleyed in.


Scribe - Shyam Young


A good win, and special mention should be made of the back four who were ALL outstanding throughout the entire game. JP was industrious and creative as always and Nahar forever looking sharp finding space time and again but lacking the finishing touch. The MOM was a close call between JP, Adam and Rogers but it goes to Mehdi for a very composed performance, never giving the ball away in a tightly packed midfield and scoring a decisive goal...class all round!!!

MOM by Owen Monaghan