By REDintern Farah Alsagoff

Raffles Institution Indoor Sports Hall, Wednesday, April 29, 2009 – In a game of catch-up, Meridian Junior College eventually outdid National Junior College at the final whistle, winning by a score of 4-2 in the Boys A Division Floorball.

The match started very promisingly for MJC as Jared (#18) dribbled past 3 NJC players and passed to an Jian Wen (#7) in front of an open goal, but the latter could not finish the job as his shot was off-target.

In the 3rd minute, NJC’s #32 took a quick shot that hit the MJC goal post and deflected out. His team mate #22 won the ball back and passed to #19, whose shot went wide.

The NJC defence was put to the test in the 7th minute. A mistake led to MJC having a 2v1 opportunity, and Jared sealed the deal with an accurate backhand volley into the goal.

MJ had another chance to score through a volley when Victor (#27) took a shot that deflected to the left after hitting the goal post. His shot, however, went high and wide.

At the 9:32 mark, NJC was awarded a free-hit in MJ’s half. NJ’s #19 received a pass and unleashed a wrist shot that soared past an MJ defender, who was not marking him tightly enough, and into the goal for NJC’s equaliser.

To further complicate matters for MJC, NJ’s #3 made a backhand shot that deflected off Brian’s (MJC, #9) stick. The ball went into the bottom left corner of MJC’s goal, bringing the score to 2-1 to NJC.

Jared showed fantastic ball control when he dribbled up once again, this time from the left side of the court to the right in the 11th minute. He then took a wrist shot that went low into the left side of the goal to level the match. His dribbling skills are fast becoming a trademark in this year’s A Division campaign.

In the 13th minute, NJC’s #19 was sent off for an incorrect hit, or slashing. MJC released their power play, but were unable to capitalize on the numerical advantage as the power play was rushed, to the point of being messy.

In the final second of the first period, NJ’s #32 tried to wrap the ball into the goal, only for the shot to be saved by MJC’s keeper Azmeer.

The second period saw both teams taking shot after shot, and launch repeated counter attacks, as they both desperately wanted to prove their capabilities. Most shots were off-target, but some required heart-stopping saves by the respective keepers. One such instance was when NJ’s #5 dribbled along the sideboards in the 23rd minute and found #16, but his wrist shot was saved by MJ’s keeper Azmeer.

The referees called for numerous fouls in the second period, with NJC on the receiving end of most of it. Fouls committed include the usual slashes, pushing, hands and even obstruction along the boards. Nonetheless, attempts by both teams to pull away was futile, and the second period ended goalless, with the score still tied at 2-2.

Shortly after the start of the third period, Jared took a shot from half-court that went wide. In the 35th minute, MJ’s Mak (#24) received a pass from Jared who lobbed the ball above 2 NJ defender’s sticks, resulting in a 1vkeeper situation. All it took was a simple wrist shot from him and the ball promptly flew into the top corner of the goal.

There was drama in the 39th minute when NJ’s #34 began to celebrate a goal he thought he had scored. However, the goal was not awarded as he committed a slashing infringement while trying to gain possession. NJC’s hopes were raised for nothing.

A minute later, MJC’s #81 found Jian Wen in NJ’s slot area. However, the former’s pass was too quick for Jian Wen to reach for, and their play-up did not materialize.

NJC was getting more and more desperate, and it as evident as they chalked up more fouls. NJ’s #28 was sent off for obstruction, and the free hit that resulted saw Brian passing to Jared, who made a wrist shot past NJC’s keeper, making it 4-2 to MJC with only 4 minutes to play.

MJC were highly motivated by their two-goal lead, and tried in every way possible to increase the scoreline. Adib (#22) lobbed the ball to NJ’s half, and Ming Xiang (#14) brought it down well. His shot was indeed not fortuitous as it hit the side of the goal post. Victor ran in for a rebound, but could not convert.

The final whistle signalled the end of the match, and needless to say, NJC looked crestfallen. Credit should be given to both teams as they fought till the end, never giving up until the final whistle blew. MJC’s superior experience, and also with the presence of the almost-legendary Jared, have added much excitement to this already-entertaining match.