Story and pictures contributed by reader Marvin Lowe.

Both CJC and SAJC players tussle for the ball. (Photo 1 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

CCAB, Tuesday, May 13, 2008 – In the first of the last two group games of the season, St Andrew’s Junior College played Catholic JC to decide who would make it to the A Division boys semi-finals. Both teams needed a clear victory: it was simply win or be kicked out of the tournament for good. SAJC took the game with a scoreline of 2-0, with a goal in the last few minutes of the game that sealed CJC’s fate.

Within minutes of the opening whistle, SAJC scored the first goal. It could be said that they scored against the run of play. CJC had laid siege on the SAJC goal but their defence was broken by a swift counter-attack. After a defensive interception, a long ball was hit up and the CJC failed to clear the danger. This allowed the SAJC attackers to sneak in towards goal and to take the lead. Conceding an early goal was a blow to CJC since they would now have to put two past the SAJC goal to secure their place in the semis. The CJC team worked hard to break the SAJC defense and they were rewarded with three straight short corners. But they all came to naught as they failed to convert any of those chances.

The game was evenly fought as both teams tried to outmaneuver each other.The score seemed likely to hold until a sudden twist of fate when an SAJC player was sent to the sin bin with a yellow card. It was a silly offense and at the wrong time as well – with almost five minutes left on the clock, it was akin to being sent off. This left SAJC with 10 men to defend their lead and they immediately set all their players into their own half to defend against the CJC onslaught.

With minutes to go, another twist dealt CJC a cruel blow. In yet another quick counter attack, SAJC’s striker broke free of his markers and took the ball into the D-ring. Cutting in from the flanks, it seemed like he would cross the ball to another player. Instead, with only the goalie and the defender in his way, he went for glory and slotted the ball coolly into goal after faking out both players with a deft touch of the stick. With this victory, SAJC will now meet Anglo-Chinese School(Ind) in the semi-finals on 16th May (Friday).

A CJC player dribbles past the SAJC defenders. (Photo 2 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A CJC player runs into Benedict Choy of SAJC. (Photo 3 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A CJC player gets cornered by Chew Guan Xun of SAJC. (Photo 4 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

The CJC player loses the ball as Kevin Yu of SAJC reaches in with his stick to knock the ball away. (Photo 5 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Collin Rodrigues of SAJC rushes past a CJC player into the penalty box to take a shot, but swings and misses. (Photo 6 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Chew Guan Xun of SAJC gets his ball knocked away by the diving CJC defenders. (Photo 7 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

The ball gets cleared over the head of Chew Guan Xun of SAJC in a dangerous play. (Photo 8 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Collin Rodrigues of SAJC skilfully turns the ball away from a CJC opponent. (Photo 9 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A CJC player puts his stick to challenge Lee Wei Shing of SAJC for the ball. (Photo 10 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Lee Wei Shing of SAJC lunges forward to block the CJC attacker. (Photo 11 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A CJC defender screams for backup after he is beaten to the ball by Lee Wei Shing of SAJC. (Photo 12 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Collin Rodrigues of SAJC cuts in from the left and beats both the defender and the goalkeeper, slotting the ball coolly into the corner for the knockout blow. (Photo 13 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

The CJC player reflecting on the magnitude of his error in conceding the goal. (Photo 14 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Ed's note: If you recognise yourself or your team mates in any of the photos, feel free to leave the names behind in the comments section and we will update the captions accordingly. Thanks!