Victoria JC book their spot in A Division Boys’ Hockey final after 4-1 win over ACS(I)

Story by REDintern Yvonne Yap. Photos by REDintern Chin Chi Hua.

Delta Sports Complex, Monday, May 18, 2009 - Victoria Junior College proved why they deserved a place in the final of the A Division Boys' Hockey Championship with a 4-1 victory over Anglo-Chinese School (Independent).

Both sides went into the game knowing that the winner would meet defending champions Raffles Institution who won their earlier match against Saint Andrew’s Junior College in the final.

ACS(I) started the game strongly, retaining possession of the ball for the first 20 minutes of the game. In the 6th minute, ACS(I) were awarded a short corner which was passed to Jaspreet Singh (AC #10). The ball was deflected off a VJC defender to Prasad (AC #9) but he failed to put the ball past the keeper.

In the 16th minute, Jaspreet sent the ball high from the 23m area to his teammate Mahendra (AC # 4). He attempted a one-two pass with Esmond Loke (AC #11) but failed to receive the returning pass.

The turning point of the game came for VJC in the 23rd minute when Rajvinder Singh (VJC # 5) received the ball from a short corner. He tried a shot at goal which was blocked by a defender but he persevered on to take a second chance to score the opening goal for VJC.

VJC took their 1-0 lead in the second half and just 3 minutes in, a short corner pass to Fauzan (VJ #14) in the D found Aloysius Ho (VJ #17) who made it 2-0 to VJC.

ACS(I) almost came up with a goal soon after, when Jaspreet made a foray down the left flank with three defenders hot on his heels. However, he lost possession of the ball when he entered the 23m area.

In the 52nd minute, ACS(I) were awarded yet another short corner after a foul by a VJC player. AC Esmond passed the shot to Jaspreet but his attempt at goal was saved by VJC keeper's quick hands.

By this time, the ACS(I) supporters had all gathered by the sidelines, instead of sitting in the grandstand to cheer the ACS (I) team on.

Their valiant efforts did not go to waste when Prasad received a short corner pass in the 58th minute and shot it towards the direction of goal. The ball was deflected off his teammate, Amirul Rasyid (AC #7) to make it 1-2.

However, VJC came back and with 10 minutes to go, Najib Indra (VJC #8) received a pass from his teammate in the D, turned 180 degrees to send the ball into the goal to mak it 3-1.

4 minutes later, Manvinder Singh (VJC #4) passed the ball to Ernest Lau (VJC #15) from the right flank into the D who made it 4-1 with 5 minutes left to send their supporters wild and seal their spot in the final.

VJC will faceoff with RI in the A Division Boys' Hockey Championship Final on May 21st 2009, 4.30pm at Delta Sports Complex.