By Kenneth Tan/Red Sports

Toa Payoh Stadium, Thursday, April 22, 2010 - Surprise package Balestier Khalsa continued their rise up the table with a 1-0 victory over Sengkang Punggol at home.

Both teams achieved impressive results prior to this game. Balestier surprisingly held Home United 2-2 at Clementi Stadium last Wednesday while Sengkang toppled Young Lions 1-0 at Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday.

However it were Balestier who managed to follow up their achievement by clinching all three points through a K Vikraman goal on 41 minutes.

Sengkang appeared lacklustre in the first half due to playing their second game in four days as Balestier capitalised on that by launching several attacks on the Sengkang goal.

On 8 minutes, Brazilian forward Rivaldo Costa's snapshot inside the Sengkang box was tipped onto the bar by Sengkang goalkeeper Fadhil Salim.

One minute later, a cross from the right picked out centre back Paul Cunningham inside the six-yard box but he failed to make the crucial connection as he ended in the net where the ball did not.

Sengkang slowly settled into the game and created a couple of opportunities thereafter.

On 32 minutes, Guinean forward Mamadou Diallo made a great run down the middle before shooting from outside the box but his effort was smothered by Balestier goalie Joey Sim.

Six minutes later, Canadian winger Jordan Webb was released down the right flank by Mamadou but his cross into the box was too high for Sobrie Mazelan to reach.

On 40 minutes, Balestier's pressure finally counted when a through ball from the right carved open the Sengkang defence to pick out winger K Vikraman just outside the box.

Vikraman swivelled past his marker before shooting low towards the bottom right corner of the goal. Despite getting a hand to it, Fadhil Salim could not prevent the ball from going in.

Sengkang appeared rejuvenated for the second half and created many opportunities to equalise.

On 50 minutes, a quick free kick set winger Jalal down the left before he managed to pull it back across goal for an unmarked Sobrie Mazelan. However Sobrie could only see his shot go agonisingly off the left hand post.

Nine minutes later, Jordan Webb headed wide of the right hand post after a Duncan Elias freekick from the left.

They had a golden chance to equalise on 63 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. A superb Jalal through ball picked out Mamadou Diallo on the left, before the latter strode confidently into the box. Balestier centre back Daniel Hammond rashly slid in, bringing Mamadou down in the process.

Sengkang captain Murphy Wiredu stepped up to face his old colleague Joey Sim, who played for Sengkang last season, from 12 yards.

However Joey proved to have the last laugh against his old employers as he managed to guess correctly towards the bottom right corner to deny Murphy.

That was a crucial save as Sengkang struggled thereafter to carve open the Balestier defence marshalled superbly by the towering centre back pairing of Daniel Hammond and Paul Cunningham, thus succumbing to a second defeat against the Tigers this season.

The result meant Sengkang dropped to 10th position with 10 points from 10 games while Balestier climbed four places to the sixth position with 13 points from the same number of games played.

Both teams will next face league leaders Tampines Rovers in their respective next matches. Sengkang will host the Stags next Wednesday, April 28th at Hougang Stadium while Balestier will play them on May 5th at Jalan Besar Stadium.