By Kenneth Tan/Red Sports

St Andrew's Junior College, Friday, March 26, 2010 - Traditional powerhouse St Andrew's Junior College (SAJC) fended off the challenge of the visiting Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) to achieve a 2-1 victory in their first Group D game of the A Division Football Championship.

Although they took a 1-0 lead in the first half, the victory came harder than expected as they made life difficult for themselves with some profligate finishing in the second half.

HCI equalised midway through the second half but a brilliant freekick from SAJC midfield playmaker Gregory Noah immediately after ensured SAJC eventually got all three points from the game.

HCI started off the better side as they showed desire to win the ball from their opponents and Zachary Lim had a shot from distance smothered well by SAJC keeper Lee Shi Tong.

However SAJC soon settled down well and got their passing movement together.

SAJC gave the first sign of warning was given on 14 minutes. Winger Foo Ming Yi got down the flank well and cut it back for Gregory Noah who hit a rising left-footed effort outside the penalty area that rocked the crossbar and went out of play.

11 minutes later, SAJC took the lead.

An inswinging corner whipped in by Gregory on the right went over the whole HCI defence, and forward Pradeep (#11) appeared to have got the faintest of touches to flick it into the top left corner of the goal.

HCI found it hard to regain possession with SAJC playmaker Gregory Noah on song and orchestrating most of his team's attacks with his creativity in midfield.

Frustration got to Larry Lau (#11) late in the first half as he delayed SAJC from taking a quick throw-in and duly got a yellow card for his troubles.

Gregory continued the second half in the same mood as he fired two dangerous long-range attempts at HCI keeper Benjamin Chua. The first one was tipped round the post, while the second one sailed just over the bar.

SAJC Captain Neville Chia also fired over the bar from six yards out after a cross in from the right, while forward Pradeep could not get his shot away after a cross in from the left by Gregory.

Despite their dominance, SAJC remained only 1-0 up. Soon they paid the price for not finishing off their chances as HCI conjured up an unlikely equaliser with 14 minutes left.

The SAJC defence failed to clear an HCI free kick whipped into their box, and the ball fell to right winger Chu Guang Yan just in front of goal. His attempt was blocked off by two onrushing SAJC defenders, but the ball fell kindly for Akilan Shanmugaratnam who wasted no time in sweeping the ball into the bottom left corner.

The goal drew loud applause from the small group of HCI fans who were outnumbered and outcheered by the SAJC fans throughout the match.

However, HCI's joy lasted only one minute. They conceded a free kick 30 yards from their goal and the resulting dead ball was curled into the goal superbly by Gregory Noah who spotted HCI goalkeeper Benjamin slightly out of position.

That goal proved the knockout blow for HCI as they failed to create any significant opportunities in the last 13 minutes to draw level once again.

That meant they fell to their second successive defeat after a 0-1 loss to Innova Junior College (IJC) three days ago while SAJC achieved a good start to their A Division campaign this year.

In the next Group D fixtures scheduled on Tuesday, March 31st, table-toppers IJC will take on second-placed Anderson Junior College in a top-of-the table clash at 3pm while SAJC will take on National Junior College at 4.45pm.

Both matches will be played at SAJC.

Final Score
SAJC 2 HCI 1

SAJC lineup
Lee Shi Tong (#19, GK), Tan Wei Zhen (#2), Kang Yun Yi (#3), Cheng Guang Fu (#6), Chow Jiachuan (#7), Muhmmad Asyraf (#8), Pradeep (#11), Darren Hedger (#13), Gregory Noah (#14), Neville Chia (#21, captain), Foo Ming Yi (#22)

HCI lineup
Benjamin Chua Ming Kai (#1, GK, captain), Daniel Lim Hua Siang (#3), Alvin Ong Wei Sheng (#4), Chu Guang Yan (#6), Zachary Lim Shi Jie (#8), Chong Xian Jie (#10), Larry Lau Sze Kiat (#11), Julian Lim (#18), Akilan Shanmugaratnam (#19), Dennis Woo Kai Mun (#22), Ng Wei Lun (#24)

Go to the SCHOOLS FIXTURES & RESULTS page for more information.