HOCKEY

Nationals ‘B’ Division
Seng Kang Secondary vs Raffles Institution
Monday, 19 March 2007, at Delta Sports Complex

Match Report by Coach Dick Yip. Score update and pictures by Leslie Tan. © Red Sports/soulbreath pictures

Seng Kang Secondary beat Raffles Institution 1-0 yesterday at the Delta Sports Complex to qualify for the Schools Nationals Hockey Final. They will meet Yuhua Secondary on Thursday, 22 March at 4:30 pm, at Delta Sports Complex.

Seng Kang Sec’s no.9 Nelson Lim dribbles past an RI player

RI,  the 2006 runners up decked in green tops met Seng Kang who achieved a third placing last year. Seng Kang were attired in red/white in this first Semi Final of the afternoon. A heavy downpour before the start ensured that the artificial turf on the pitch was well watered down, essential to reducing playing injuries.

At 3pm, in bright sunshine after the rain, the umpire blew his whistle and got the game going. Both sides tested the opponent’s goal area (the D) with speculative long hits and shots which passed harmlessly. Seng Kang had the first real chance to open accounts in the 8th minute with a penalty corner which was well executed but the shot was equally well blocked by RI’s GK. Two minutes later, RI were awarded their 1st penalty corner but they fluffed it. The Seng Kang boys were more lively in the early stages of the game. Dominating their rival’s half of the pitch for a sustained period, they had four good chances at goal but wasted all with poor finishing. With a quarter hour passed, SK had their best chance after an infringement by RI’s no. 9. The ball was superbly sent into the D but the resulting hit went over the goalpost. In a rare counter-attack, RI almost scored when their midfielder, No.13, penetrated the D and hit a powerful shot which was somehow stopped by the Seng Kang GK ‘s foot. Seng Kang resumed their attacking play and were rewarded with their second penalty corner in the 20th minute. This time they too fluffed it. A minute later, RI conceded another penalty corner which was beautifully executed by Seng Kang with the ball pushed into the path of an incoming SK No. 3 but he missed his shot.

RI on the attack against Seng Kang.

 

The pace of the game took a dramatic turn in the 22nd minute when Seng Kang’s no.9 Nelson Lim was sent to the sin bin for a foul. RI, sensing their advantage, went in search of the opening goal with a series of sustained attacks. They had several penalty corners which were well defended by the Seng Kang boys. The first half ended goalless with plenty of action, many near misses and an acute shortage of individual brilliance and quality set pieces.

As if in answer to my silent prayer at the break for some creative spark from the players to alter the momentum of this deadlock, the opening minutes of the 2nd half saw Seng Kang’s attacking players more willing to have a go at the RI defence with some brilliant individual stickwork. In the 4th minute Seng Kang’s Nelson Lim dribbled past everyone towards goal but he overshot the backline. In response, RI’s impressive no.13 Balu began a solo run into the D, finishing with a terrific shot which was cleared by a defender.  The ball was then cleverly sent upfield to Nelson who, not to be outdone, went on his own solo dribble into the RI goal area before hitting a tremendous shot which hit the right post. Suddenly, the game seemed to have come alive with so many players making penetrative runs into each others’ D. Sooner or later, I was thinking, one would go in as all it takes is a sudden turn or twist to lose a dogged defender, see the goal and simply let fly at the ball.

RI’s Balu (left) takes a pass from a team mate.

That magical moment arrived soon in the 9th minute. It started with an RI pass that went astray, one of many such passes, that was intercepted in midfield and sent to the flanks. A Seng Kang winger then centered the ball towards the D. Seng Kang’s no. 3 Baqir Asali took possession, controlled the ball well and went on a short run, dribbling past RI defenders, moving to his left ( rather than directly heading for goal) away from any defenders before he suddenly whipped in a wicked reverse stick shot which sailed past everyone, including the RI keeper, into goal. That opening goal produced 2 celebrations – one on the pitch as Baqir’s teammates smothered him with hugs and squeezes while their supporters jumped in jubilation at the gallery stand.

Seng Kang’s Baqir (left) celebrates his stunning goal against RI

RI had no choice after this new turn of events. If they were not to lose out they needed to go in search of the equaliser and quickly, as time was running out. Inspiration was urgently needed and it came in the form of their no.10 who went on a solo run into Seng Kang’s D and released a beautiful shot which was blocked, in the nick of time, by a defender. They huffed and they puffed, with several corners and raids but RI was thwarted by solid defending. Their final double chance came deep in stoppage time, when no.13 had a cracking shot at goal, which was again saved by the Seng Kang goalkeeper ‘s foot, and the last penalty corner of the game which they fluffed badly.

 When the whistle was blown for full-time moments later, Seng Kang players and their supporters celebrated their march into the final against Yuhua.

Sengkang Sec’s right midfielder, no.3 Baqir Asali, scored the only goal of the match against RI. The goal was scored in the 9th minute of the 2nd half.

If you recognise yourself or your team mate, please tell us your name.

More pictures in the Picture Gallery.