and Jackson still scores!!

Team Goat 4 Swee Swee 1 FC 2

(JinChuen, Jackson, Benny, KahWoon)

Yesterday's game for me has been labelled a 'die die must win game'. Why? Reason being that some of the words the opp said when we met them during the 1st game really fired me up. Eg, 'this is a champion team?' To me, you can discriminate me but not the team. You don't know who we are and what kind of result we can produce!

Yes we don't have a very serious warm up session to warm our guys up before the game but everyone enjoys the kick around before the game which will lighten the mood up. Yes we may not have the 'connection' (we may not have it yet! but it will come!) that will make the passes flow. But hey! Can you stop us from attacking and scoring? Can any team in the league bring a constant 20 individuals dedicated to the game every Saturday? I'm proud to say Team Goat can!

In the end, why are we in a league? Definitely it is this kind of period that we enjoy the most! 7 games unbeaten is a long run for us and definitely the feeling is good! (so so good) But let us remind ourself (thanks kahWoon for reminding) we should not get complacent over what we had today. Remember a few months ago when we could even win our first 4 games? And a few weeks ago when we couldn't overcome the resilient Star CF? So lets not get complacent and always get the job done. Yesterday i saw some stuff that actually quite disturbed me, when we were leading 4-1 our players starts to get complacent and do stupid things on the field! Please, we have not won the game, just keep playing like we do and don't do cheeky stuffs! Newcastle can also fight back to 4-4 against Arsenal!!! (good moments!)

Now, to the game!

The game started off with the opp lacking of players once again. Eventually they played with 10 before anything started to happen. Although having the numbers on our side, we still share equal possession with the ever strong Swee Swee 1 FC. Quite a few chances were given to them but they never really quite get anything out of it and the 1st goal for Team Goat soon came. A counter-attack from Manfred brought the ball up the left flank and with Jackson in the middle calling for the ball. A cross was placed into the box but was 'deflected off an opp' (if u think that's true), Corner! The new outfield player!!! YES THAT'S ME! ran over to take his 2nd corner of the game. The corner ALMOST flew past everyone but JinChuen manage to 'rise' to the occasion by heading the ball over the Goalkeeper! 1-0

5-10mins later into the game another goal came for Team Goat and it is non other than our Goal Poacher Jackson. A clearance from his own half, KahWoon manage to ram the ball up the field into no man lands which is just between the goalkeeper and the Centre-back. Jackson quickly uses his god-like speed to hunt the ball down. Although the Centre-back manage to get in-front of the ball and tries to shields it, Jackson was still too quick and manoeuvres pass him to tap the ball into the net before the goalkeeper could do anything about it. 2-0

Another 5-10mins later, I would believe their motm score a excellent goal that I should give credit to. The 'Chelsea' guy (because he was wearing a Chelsea jersey) dribbled the ball with flair cutting through our midfield and defence before finally pulling the trigger. The Goal of the game I would say. But i feel we could have done more about it? Sometimes if this happens we might just take a yellow card and let them have a free-kick. 2-1 And half time approached us.

With the slender lead, Team Goat's idea was to contain the midfield and not to let them play. But soon the plan fell apart but in a Good Way! Not only we were able to contain the midfield we were also able to break forward! with 15mins into the game 2 goals came and all thanks to our last season's player of the season!

-With Jackson holding the ball in the centre-mid area he manage to find Yiwen who is bombing down the right wing. A through ball of class was put in between their defences to find Yiwen. Doing what he does best, Yiwen went straight to the by-line and cuts in towards the goal. With all their defences trying to cut him out, Benny manage to find himself wide open in the box (literally no goalkeeper and no defences), yiwen slides the ball in for Benny for an easy tap in! 3-1!

-Assist turn Scorer Yiwen managed to drive the ball down the right flank himself with great pace. Doing what he does best again he went to the by-line again (so opp look out for that! but that's if you can stop him!) Trying to find a cross in, no one was available but soon a tackle flew in and he was down on the ground. Thinking that it was a penalty, Yiwen just sat on the grass with the ball in-between his legs. With the whistle not being blown, the game carries on and Yiwen was the first to react. Twisting and turning while he was on the ground, he manage to clip the ball up in the air and he too quickly stands up and put a shot over the goalkeeper! 4-1 A first goal with no assist!

Than the complacent part comes along. Players starts to move around slowly and not doing their part. Cheeky moves were made, some even trying doing tricks on the opp. And rightly when we always starts to get complacent we were being punished. A 'Back pass' (you have to see it to determine if it is really a back pass) was made and JunGuang hold the ball. The opp soon get the ball from our hands and took a quick in-direct free-kick. 4-2

After that it was just the same old GOAT back and everyone was no longer complacent and tried to push on for the 5th goal. Jackson had a few chances and so does the rest but it came to no avail. But nonetheless yesterday's performance was an all round performance by the team where everyone was doing their part. (most of the time)

Man of the Match - Ng KahWoon (14)

Today's decision for Man of the Match was tight and voting was carried out between the committee for the award. A slender lead of 1 vote let KahWoon to the honour. He has evolved much into the game being able to read the game and doing his duty well. Remembering back in the past when he was always lost in the team but now steady manage to find his foothold in the team and doing a good job with it. A true fighter he called himself, Fighting for the team in every aspect and he have done a marvellous job in man-marking the Chelsea guy. With new instruction passed to him on 2nd half (which is to man-mark him), the Chelsea guy have seen less of the ball and could not do what he does best. And to wrap it all off, he still have an assist under his name now making him the top assist in the team! Congrats to him and he may also be the winner of the Most improved player of the season and who knows even challenge Jackson for the Player of the Season award?

Kambeng!
Jeff