Republic Polytechnic, Wednesday, March 9, 2011 — Sometimes it is cruel that any competitive match results in a winning and a losing team.

That certainly was the case in the National B Division Floorball Championship semi-final where Catholic High beat Northland Secondary 3-2. Both teams matched each other equally throughout and deserved credit for the battling efforts they put into the game.

Yet it was Catholic High that managed to qualify for the final as Joshua Lee tapped in the winning goal with 13 seconds left on the clock to spark off scenes of wild jubilation and despair. Northland managed a last-gasp attack but failed to find the much needed equaliser as time ran out.

This marked the first time in three years that Victoria School and Bukit Merah Secondary will not be meeting in the final. Catholic High will now face Victoria School, who beat Bukit Merah Secondary 8-7 (2-1) after a penalty shootout, in the final on Friday 11 March at Republic Polytechnic.

The game started with Northland scoring the first goal and Catholic High netting the equaliser, all in the first period.

The second period, though scoreless, was not without its fair share of excitement as both teams came close. However, with a final place at stake, it seemed more crucial that both teams were consciously trying to cut out any mistakes that may result in a goal.

Catholic High came out firing in the third period with several good chances before striker Ryan Cheng scored from a quick counter attacking move. However, their celebrations were soon muted when captain Darrel Er was sent off for a pushing foul on a Northland striker.

Northland then showed their famed battling qualities which saw them come back against defending champions Bukit Merah Secondary in the previous group game from 5-8 down to draw 8-8.

A quick timeout by Northland’s coach then saw them take full advantage of their one-man advantage to force a goal past the Catholic High goalkeeper. Enthused by their equaliser, they began to buzz around the Catholic High goal area with more purpose and desire and came close to scoring with several good flicks.

Catholic High’s coach responded by sending in his first line of players for the rest of the game. Though players on both sides were clearly tiring out by now, it was pure adrenaline that drove them on with a penalty shootout looming.

With just seconds to spare, a Catholic High attack saw a goalmouth melee at the Northland goal area and Joshua Lee popped up to tap in the winning goal for Catholic High’s win.