By Kenneth Tan/Red Sports

Jalan Besar Stadium, Monday, April 19, 2010 - Cellar dwellers Sengkang Punggol ensured their stay at the bottom of the table lasted only four days as they managed to clinch a valuable 1-0 away win over Young Lions.

After suffering three successive losses, coupled with Woodlands Wellington and Albirex Niigata (Singapore) winning their games last week, they reached the rock bottom in the S.League table last Friday.

Facing a resurgent Young Lions who had 2 successive wins, a tough task seemed to lie ahead for the Dolphins. However they managed to achieve the victory through lethal counter-attacking moves and superb rearguard action.

Young Lions had the better of the first half in terms of possession but could not use them effectively.

Left winger Gabriel Quak was the man of the first half as he constantly carved open Sengkang's right flank and whipped in a couple of dangerous crosses that failed to find any Young Lions forwards in the box.

Sengkang instead went close on two occasions.

On 34 minutes, Canadian midfielder Murphy Wiredu's effort just outside the box was well palmed away from the bottom right corner of the goal by Young Lions keeper Izwan Mahbud.

Four minutes later, centre back Shahir Hamzah went on a great run out of defence and passed to Sobrie Mazelan who in turn released forward Mamadou Diallo into the box with a great through-pass. However Mamadou fired just wide of the right-hand post with just Izwan to beat.

Young Lions continued their attacking approach in the second half and created three opportunities to score within three minutes.

On 56 minutes, a cross from Gabriel Quak from the left found forward Khairul Nizam free in the box. Khairul shaped up to shoot at goal before Sengkang winger Jalal appeared from nowhere to unleash a superb block to deflect the shot away from goal.

Two minutes later, Gabriel once again got past the Sengkang defence with a superb one-two with Luka Savic. With just Sengkang keeper Fadhil Salim to beat, Gabriel attempted to outwit the former by dribbling past him but Fadhil got up well to foil the attempt.

The ball fell to a lurking Seo Su Jong who produced a superb lob over Fadhil who was not yet back in goal. However Shahir Hamzah got back well to head it off the line.

Seo then drilled another effort over from 20 yards just one minute later.

After surviving the Young Lions onslaught, Sengkang's confidence grew in stature and promptly seized the opportunity to score when Young Lions skipper Hariss Harun brought down Jalal on the right flank on 64 minutes.

The resulting deadball whipped in by left back Duncan Elias eluded everyone in the Young Lions box except Murphy Wiredu who got the slightest of touches to head the ball home into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Sengkang did not rest on their laurels as they went on the attack to seek their second goal.

On 69 minutes, Hariss Harun lost the ball to Sengkang winger Jordan Webb in midfield before the latter stole in and spread to the left flank for Sobrie Mazelan. Sobrie unselfishly pulled it back for Jordan who tried what Seo did earlier by lobbing over the goalkeeper, however Young Lions centre back Abdil Qaiyyim backtracked well and headed it off the line.

Six minutes later, a cross from Murphy Wiredu from the right saw Jordan Webb cutting it back for Mamadou Diallo outside the box. Mamadou swivelled past one defender before shooting wide of the right-hand post.

Young Lions decided to push up skipper Hariss Harun into centre midfield for the last eight minutes to conjure up an equaliser.

The skipper nearly did so in the last minute of regulation time when he unleashed a piledriver from all of 30 yards. The effort looked to be sailing towards the top left corner of the goal before Fadhil Salim leaped well to tip it over.

Seo Su Jong had one last opportunity to equalise for Young Lions but his effort from outside the box was well palmed away by Fadhil again.

That marked the final piece of action as Sengkang managed to clinch the three points that ensured they climbed to 9th in the table with 10 points from 9 games played while Young Lions stayed on 7th with 12 points from the same number of games played.

Both sides will play next on Thursday, 22th April. Young Lions will entertain Beijing Guoan Talent FC at home, while Sengkang will visit Balestier at Toa Payoh Stadium.