FLOORBALL

Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Floorball Championship 2008

Story by Muhammad Hannan. Pictures by Lai Jun Wei. © Red Sports

Ngee Ann Polytechnic, January 2nd, 2008 – Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) tore apart Singapore Polytechnic 11-2 in an IVP Floorball Championship game last week. NP started their demolition of SP as early as the 1st minute when they won the face-off and were quick to attack down the left flank. NP #36 Md. Fahmi’s pass found an open team mate #44 Brandon Cheong, who fired the first time shot into the bottom right corner of the SP goal leaving the Singapore Polytechnic keeper fuming at his defense for their slack marking.

08-ivp_npvsp-1.jpg

Hilmi of NP outdribbles his SP opponent. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)


NP doubled their lead two minutes later through #24 Md. Noh whose unassisted shot from a tight angle went between the keeper’s legs and into the goal, helped along by the keeper’s trailing leg. NP quickly extended their lead to 3-0 when they added another goal in the 6th minute. NP #44 Brandon Cheong stole the ball off an SP defender, faked a shot and passed to #18 Ahmad Fattah whose shot was neatly placed into the bottom left corner.

08-ivp_npvsp-2.jpg

“I will not let you score!” The SP goalkeeper prepares to fend off an attack. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)

SP then changed goalkeepers in a bid to stem the damage. In a bizarre twist, SP conceded a fourth via an own goal. SP defender #13 Md. Azri was under heavy pressure by NP #44 Brandon Cheong after receiving the ball from his goalkeeper. In an attempt to clear the ball, Md. Azri smacked the ball right past his helpless goalie and into the net.

08-ivp_npvsp-4.jpg

SP #18 (in red) Muhd Fidaae consoling #13 Md. Azri who scored an own goal. In the foreground are Brandon Cheong with teammate Fattah of NP. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)

SP finally got on the scoreboard when bulky #77 Meng Hwee ran down the entire left flank and then behind the goal before laying the ball nicely for teammate #10 Kwee Ann, who easily tapped the ball into the goal to make it 1-4. However, their comeback was short-lived as goal number five was soon to come for NP. #44 Brandon Cheong's shot from halfway was spectacularly saved by the SP keeper but the rebound fell nicely for NP #24 Md. Noh who once again from another tight angle slotted the ball home to make it 5-1. A minute from the end of the first period, NP scored another goal by #18 Ahmad Fattah who was assisted by #44 Brandon Cheong for a 6-1 scoreline.

08-ivp_npvsp-6.jpg

NP and SP squaring off at a restart. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)

Period 2 started much better for SP when they managed to score a goal in the 2nd minute. A miss-hit pass from NP #28 Henry Neo went to SP #12 Md. Shazwan, who shot past the goalie who was out of position to make it 2-6. However, NP did not allow the set-back to stop their rhythm as a well worked NP move gave #13 Md. Farhan an easy shot at the goal with an assist by #3 Md. Aqil to make it 7-2.

NP then scored another two goals in the space of just two minutes. #11 Md. Hafiz ran down the left flank and centred the ball for #14 Md. Hilmi who let fly a shot from the goalie's blindside. NP then got their next after excellent running down the centre by #18 Ahmad Fattah who found #44 Brandon Cheong empty on the left. Brandon made no mistake as his shot went under the diving keeper's body to make it a 9-2 NP lead.

08-ivp_npvsp-8.jpg

“Goal!!” SP’s goalkeeper helplessly watches the ball find the back of the net. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)

SP found themselves in a deeper hole when #33 Benedict Raj was penalized for incorrect pushing and had to sit out the game for two minutes. NP grabbed hold of the one-man advantage and got another unassisted goal from #14 Md. Hilmi to make it 10-2.

08-ivp_npvsp-3.jpg

“The ball is here!” An NP finds himself all alone with the ball in front of the NP goal. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)

Period 3 was a quiet affair with only two 2-minute penalties, one for SP #32 Md. Haziq for a holding infringement and NP #14 Md. Hilmi for unsportsmanlike conduct when he threw an opponent’s stick out of the court.

NP showed no real urge to attack in this final period as they played possession and kept SP at bay. The occasional shots from NP missed the goal and hardly troubled the SP keeper for the first time throughout the game.

08-ivp_npvsp-5.jpg

A jubilant Md. Noh celebrates with teammate Hilmi (#14) on having scored a goal. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)

NP scored the only goal of the period in the 14th min of the 3rd period when #12 Khairuddin rounded the back of the goal to find an open #13 Md. Farhan who smacked a shot over the keeper’s head for the final score of 11-2.

08-ivp_npvsp-7.jpg

SP’s #5 tussles with his opponent for the ball. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)

Match Statistics:
NP
Scorers: Brandon Cheong (2), Md. Noh (2), Ahmad Fattah (2), Md. Farhan (2), Md. Hilmi (2) (SP OG: Md. Azri)
Assist: Md. Fahmi, Brandon Cheong (2), Md. Aqil, Md. Hafiz, Ahmad Fattah, Khairuddin

SP
Scorers: Kwee Ann, Md. Shazwan
Assists: Meng Hwee

More pictures in the gallery.

Editor's note: If you recognise yourself or your teammates, or if we've got the names wrong, let us know and we'll update the captions. Thanks.

MATCH FIXTURES

All matches at Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Monday, 7 Jan

Men’s A
6.00pm SP vs NTU
7.45pm NYP vs SIM

Women’s A
6.00pm NYP vs SIM
7.45pm RP vs SMU

Tuesday, 8 Jan

Women’s B
6.00pm NUS vs NP
7.45pm TP vs NTU

Men’s B
6.00pm SMU vs TP
7.45pm RP vs NUS

Wednesday, 9 Jan

Men’s A
6.00pm SIM vs SP
7.45pm NP vs NYP

Women’s A
6.00pm SP vs NYP
7.45pm SIM vs RP

Thursday, 10 Jan

Women’s B
7.45pm NUS vs TP

Men’s B
6.00pm NUS vs TP
7.45pm RP vs SMU

Friday, 11 Jan

Men’s A
6.00pm NYP vs SP
7.45pm NTU vs NP
Women’s A
6.00pm SMU vs SP
7.45pm NYP vs RP

Monday, 14 Jan

Women’s Semi-Finals

6.30pm Semi-Final W1 Gp A 1st vs Gp B 2nd
8.00pm Semi-Final W2 Gp B 1st vs Gp A 2nd

Tuesday, 15 Jan

Men’s Semi-finals

6.30pm Semi-Final M1 Gp A 1st vs Gp B 2nd
8.00pm Semi-Final M2 Gp B 1st vs Gp A 2nd

Thursday, 17 Jan

6.30pm Women 3rd/4th Placing
8.00pm Men 3rd/4th Placing

FINAL

Friday, 18 Jan
6.30pm Women’s Final
8.00pm Men’s Final