By REDintern Desiray Tay

CCAB, Thursday, August 20, 2009 – Deyi Secondary beat Bowen Secondary 4-0 to capture third place in the girls’ C Division Football Championship.

The presence of an able and instinctive striker made the difference for Deyi. With both teams evenly matched in terms of skills and play and both sides with wingers able to provide the balls to their strikers, it was only Deyi who were able to finish off and score.

Deyi led 1-0 at the end of the first half through Nur Ain (Deyi, #25). For a large part of that half, Deyi remained camped in Bowen’s half as the Bowen team struggled to get the ball out of their half. Weak clearances either ended up as throw-ins to Deyi or were just kicked back to Deyi’s waiting midfielders.

At half-time, an infuriated Bowen coach was seen upbraiding her players. With their B Division team currently the champions for two years running, there was a reputation to upkeep.

Bowen players cam back with renewed grit in the second half and they started forcing turnovers from their Deyi opponents. But there was no stopping Nur Ain of Deyi as combined well with team mate Ramya (Deyi, #19). Ramya then fed a pass to Niva (Deyi, #23) who scored to make it 2-0 for Deyi.

Ann’nuur (Bowen, #17) then hit a nice through pass for her captain Junese (#10) who failed to control it and the Bowen bench erupted in frustration at the lost chance at the edge of the box.

Another chance came Bowen’s way but resolute Deyi captain Nadra (#21) cleared in time.

Nur Ain (Deyi, #25) then had another chance but the Bowen keeper dived to keep out her attempt. Niva (Deyi, #23) followed up with a second attempt but it was in vain and the score remained at 2-0.

The game swung from end to end as both teams took turns to gain possession and bring it down the field but it was Bowen that proved more incisive upfront.

A good lob by Ann’nuur (Bowen, #17) gave her teammate Farah (Bowen, #16) a chance to take a crack at goal but the beautiful shot went straight into the keeper’s arms.

Deyi came back with a reply of their own when a Nadra (Deyi, #21) cross found an open Anusha (Deyi, #20) but her weak lob was caught.

A weak goal kick by Bowen presented the ball to Nur Ain (Deyi, #25) who was subsequently brought down by two sandwiching defenders in the box. The referee declared a penalty and Nur Ain was heard excitedly exclaiming “I take! I take! i take!” to her coach at the sidelines. Her coach firmly refused her and singled out captain Nadra to take the penalty and she did not disappoint with a rocket to the top left hand corner to make it 3-0.

Bowen’s main hope of a goal was going to come from Farah as the player created shooting chances for herself but it was Deyi who had the final say when Niva (Deyi, #23) volleyed home her second and Deyi’s fourth of the game.