Story by Wong Hong Yong. Photos by Tan Huey Ying.

bukit merah vs victoria floorball

A cheer from Bukit Merah’s Muhammad Afiq after his team scores the first goal of the match. (Photo 1 © Tan Huey Ying/Red Sports)

Republic Polytechnic Sports hall, Thursday, March 5, 2009 - Bukit Merah Secondary edged out Victoria School 6-5 to capture the B Division Boys National Floorball Championship title.

It was an encounter between two juggernauts of the B Division Floorball and there was much pride at stake.

VS started the stronger of the two teams as they attacked right from the face off, with their #8 making a strong backhand shot that flew just wide of the post. VS continually used their superior speed to press their Bukit Merah counterparts, who seemed a little lost.

A rare foray forward by Bukit Merah caught the attacking VS off guard and allowed the Bukit Merah #91 to put a shot narrowly wide of the left hand top corner.

VS then continued pressing and after some mesmerizing stick work by their captain, Hidayat (VS #14), he made an easy pass to teammate #10, whose shot was saved by the Bukit Merah goalie.

VS then found themselves a goal down as their high-tempo attacking play got the better of them. Bukit Merah made a fast break which allowed their #17 to cut through the whole backtracking VS defense and put a drag shot past the goalie from a seemingly difficult angle.

The second Bukit Merah goal soon followed as the same scenario repeated itself. This time it was Alvin Tan (#27) from Bukit Merah who scored via a wrist shot as the fast break caught the backtracking VS defense in no man’s land.

It was now 2-0 to Bukit Merah who were just soaking up the pressure and then exploiting the spaces left by the attacking VS players. The remainder of the quarter saw many rough plays from both sides and many players had to take turns sitting in the sin bin.

One such moment had the VS players thinking that they had pulled one goal back when they took a quick free hit which nestled in the net. But the referee did not give it as he was blowing for a foul which resulted in a Bukit Merah player having to sit in the sin bin.

VS took control of the what was left in the period as they camped in the Bukit Merah half and peppered the goal with shots. Unfortunately for them, the Bukit Merah goalie was in imperious form and denied them time and again.

Just as the half drew to a close, VS finally got the goal they deserved as a loose ball from a VS attack found its way to their #4, and with no defenders in sight he made no mistake with the wrist shot that left the Bukit Merah goalie with no chance.

The second period started with VS trailing 1-2 and playing a passing game instead of the high-tempo attacking one to ensure that their defense was more compact. This allowed VS forwards #10 and #14 to link up play more effectively as they had more shots on goal. The VS #17 then then played a free hit pass to teammate #4 who volleyed the ball nicely but was denied again by the Bukit Merah goalie.

Just as VS were cruising through this period, Bukit Merah scored a goal through some intelligent play by Shawn Tan (Bt. M #17) who held possession long enough to pick out a pass to teammate Afiq, #21 who put an easy wrist shot into goal to make it 3-1 to Bukit Merah.

VS continued to have the better chances of the two sides as they pushed forward more regularly. They eventually got their second goal when Bukit Merah complacency in setting up a wall allowed VS to take an early free hit which whizzed into goal and caught everyone off guard.

Trailing 2-3 now, VS should have got the deserved equalizer almost immediately, but again the Bukit Merah goalie denied a fierce wrist shot by Hidayat, VS #14 and Haseef, VS #4 mistimed his volley as the BM goalie got to the ball.

Bukit Merah then nearly scored on the break as the VS #17 gave up possession cheaply to the Afiq #21 from Bukit Merah, but the nerves got to him and he skied his shot. Shawn Tan, VS #17 soon made amendments for his earlier mistake as he equalised for VS via an easy tap in, after the Bukit Merah goalie was caught momentarily off guard. It was now 3-3 and VS finished the second period strongly.

The last period was do-or-die time for both sides, and with momentum on their side, VS pressed really hard in search for the fourth goal to complete their comeback.

The VS #9 nearly scored when he tried a cheeky lob which the Bukit Merah goalie was alert enough to palm over. But it was not to be for VS as Bukit Merah got the lead once again, this time through a fast break by Alif, #20 who unselfishly set up teammate Mazran, #11 for an easy wrist shot which went under the diving VS goalie to make it 4-3.

But VS almost levelled instantaneously through Hidaya, #14 who took a quick wrist shot after some great stick work, that the BM goalie could only watch fly into goal to make it 4-4. Sensing the goalie tiring, the Bukit Merah coach signaled for a change of goalie.

With each side tiring, there was more space to play but both sides played a cautious passing game to avoid conceding. VS hearts were broken for a fifth time when Bukit Merah captain Sebastian See, #91 broke away from the defense and hit a slap shot that blazed past the outstretched hand of the VS goalie into the left top corner for a 5-4 lead.

Still refusing to give up, VS powered forward and got their reward. VS #4, Haseef simply bulldozed his way through the defence before unleashing a wrist shot which left the Bukit Merah goalie with no chance. And they made it 5-5.

The temperature was rising as the supporters were cheering loudly for both sides and both sides attack ferociously on the court. Both goalies were busy saving shots as the VS attacking duo of #14 and #10 dictated the attacking play.

The crowd let out a loud “OOOOOH!” when a drag shot by the VS #7 hit the right hand post and flew out. Haseef, VS #4 then lobbed a ball to teammate #17 whose back hand shot was saved well by the Bukit Merah goalie.

Things then took a turn when Bukit Merah suddenly restored their lead with two minutes left on the clock. They got a free hit but wasted the shot. A pass was then made to Marshall Tham, BM #5 who made a drag shot from a difficult angle that whizzed past the VS goalie to spark jubilant celebrations from the Bukit Merah players.

With 1:56 left on the clock, VS threw their all at the Bukit Merah goal with Haseef, VS #4 being typically tenacious. For the final 20 seconds VS took out the goalie for an outfield player in a desperate attempt to nick something from this game. However, the plan almost backfired when Marshall Than, BM #5 missed tapping into an empty goal.

When the buzzer sounded, winning the title was just not to be for VS despite their fighting spirit and they succumbed 6-5 to Bukit Merah.