Magnificent Meridian JC too much for Yishun JC in A Division boys’ floorball final

Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Photos by REDintern Thomas Tan and Tan Jon Han/Red Sports.

Republic Polytechnic, Tuesday, May 18, 2010 – Captain Jared Goh (#10) bagged a hat-trick as Meridian Junior College (MJC) clinched the 2010 A Division Boys’ Floorball Championship with a dominating 7-2 performance against Yishun Junior College (YJC) in the final.

Both teams definitely earned their spot in the final with impressive victories against their semi-finals opponents. MJC came from behind to dethrone defending champions Victoria Junior College 4-3 while YJC beat Raffles Institution 7-2 in the other semi-final.

MJC came out firing on all cylinders in the final and boasted a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period. They continued their dominance in the second with four unanswered goals, with Jared Goh scoring three of them. Although YJC held them off in the final period and grabbed a consolation goal, MJC easily sealed the match.

Last year’s runners-up were determined to do one better this year and it showed right from the face-off with the first real chance falling to Jared after four and a half minutes. However, the MJC captain put the ball over with only the goal keeper to beat.

Just a minute later, they would take the lead. Tan Chang Tat (MJC #22) turned the ball into goal, scoring the opening goal and giving his side the advantage.

Mohd Fadly (YJC #4) almost provided the perfect reply a minute after falling behind, but his effort was kept out by MJC’s goalkeeper. At the other end, Matthew Mohan (MJC #77) also forced a save from YJC’s custodian.

Not satisfied with the slim lead, MJC pushed for more and they were rewarded when Muhd Azhari (#23) found the back of the net from the left to double his side’s lead. MJC seemed to be in full control and they looked like they would run away with the match.

However, YJC soon brought them down to earth when Goh Zhi Quan (#72) slotted the ball through to Leong Shi Kang (#76) who effortlessly tapped it past MJC’s goalkeeper Lincoln Lim (#11).

MJC did not take long to restore their two-goal cushion. Abdul Wafiy (#7) did all the hard work, dribbling past a couple of players before threading a cross-court pass to the unmarked Tan Chang Tat (#22) who slammed the ball home for his second and MJC’s third goal of the game.

The first period ended 3-1 in favour of MJC.

The Eastlanders continued their pressure on YJC with Jared claiming the opening shot of the second, but his effort went wide.

He was not about to be denied awhile later.

With just a minute and a half into the period, he found the back of the net after he sprinted down the left and sent an unstoppable shot beyond the goalkeeper. His first goal of the contest gave his side a commanding 4-1 lead.

Things then got from bad to worse for YJC when Muhd Sufian (#6) was sent to the sin bin in the sixth minute for pushing. It was all the invitation that MJC needed to attack YJC and after a patient build-up, Jared got his second goal with an easy tap-in.

With a comfortable 5-1 lead, MJC toyed with YJC at this point, making darting runs at their defense. Jared completed his hat-trick when he turned in Matthew Mohan’s wayward shot. He then turned provider when Adarrel Ho (#18) got MJC’s seventh goal to effectively end the match as a contest in the second period.

YJC came out strongly in the third period and upped their defense. Despite MJC’s constant pressure, YJC kept them scoreless while creating a couple of chances of their own. YJC were eventually rewarded when Nikhil Prakash Nair (#17) hit MJC on the break with 2:20 minutes left on the clock. That, however, proved to be a mere consolation as MJC sealed the match 7-2.

“It is very disappointing,” said YJC captain Goh Zhi Quan. “We came in rather determined to beat MJC, but it didn’t go our way like in the semi-final [against Raffles Institution]. Being in the final last year, their team have more experience than us so they are superior in that area.”

“Feeling super super super happy right now!” expressed Jared Goh after the match. “We wanted it back after a two-year drought and now we want it to stay at MJC!”

“It was tight in the first period until we got the goals. After that, we were able to calm down and played to our ability. Yishun JC are a good side and they played hard till the end. This year, all the teams are very strong, but it is obvious who is the best!” beamed Jared.

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