Come On McLucky Lads... K(ick) O(ff) or K(nocked) O(out)?

McLucky FC vs Huzer's Junior's Team

Report: YZ

Time: 9.29am
Venue: Bukit Timah Field

Starting Line Up: Alvin (GK), Huzer (DR), Eeyang (DC), Weide[c] (DC),
Zhan Wei (DL), Chun Wei (MR), Bingde (ML), Leslie (MC),
Rayner (MC), Sin Cheng (FC), Siu Chun (ST)
[ 4 - 4 - 1 - 1 Formation ]

Sub(s): Darren

Pre Match Comments

Its been a while since McLucky FC last played their match against SCFT. On Labour Day, McLucky FC took to the field again, this time, to pose a challenge to the likes of officer cadets (sorry...no capital letters for them... ORD loh...) and current enlistees in the army. However, the weather was once again unforgiving and McLucky members had only just recovered from the street soccer session on Saturday that was held under similar weather conditions. Furthermore, our industrious right winger Chun Wei was also suffering from a severe sore throat and seemed uncomfortable with the playing conditions. Against seemingly fitter and younger opposition, how will McLucky fare?

With Nicky being unavailable (no prizes for guessing why), Alvin was called upon to become McLucky's last line of defence. Instructions given out by Team Captain Weide were that play was to be concentrated down the right side of midfield and midfielders were to try to get the ball into the "gap" between the opposing defenders and goalkeeper for the forwards to chase. Defenders were reminded to play the ball down the line towards our wingers.

1st Half Highlights

Kick-off at 9.29am as the referee blows his whistle to start the match. The pace of the game is fast and furious as Huzer's Junior's team (HJT) tries to wreste control of the midfield away from McLucky. The opposition almost got lucky in the 5th minute of play when a long cross from outside the penalty area hits the cross-bar. They get cheeky in the 7th minute when they try to lob the keeper from the outside. Fortunately the ball sails right over the bar.

In the 11th minute of play, HJT breaks down the right flank and crosses the ball into the penalty area. No.19 is unable to control the direction of his header and heads over the bar. A close shave for McLucky. Right now, it seems that both teams are instigating attacking movements from their right flanks respectively. Bingde makes a run down the left side to the by-line (in the 18th minute) after controlling the ball but the resultant cross is poor.

The deadlock is broken after 23 minutes of play when No. 6 of the opposing team receives the ball in the right flank and drills a shot from 20 yards out into the lower right corner of McLucky's goal, beating Alvin at his near post. However, upon closer scrutiny, it seemed that the "shot" was meant to be more of a low cross into the 6-yard box. Was it a fluke or was it a properly taken goal? It was for the goalscorer to know and for the rest of us to find out... 1-0 to HJT

Zhan Wei is substituted in the 28th minute. Darren comes in to replace him at left-back. McLucky has to endure yet another HJT attack in the 34th minute when the opponents attack down their left flank, with No.11 taking a shot on goal from the left. The ball goes wide. Surprisingly, the referee blows his whistle to signal the end of the half at the 35th minute, instead of playing the full 45 minutes. Half-time score: HJT 1 MFC 0

Half-time Team Talk

Half-time and the McLucky lads find themselves a goal down. The not-so-good memories from the last match against SCFT comes into mind instantly...... Seems like the opponents' well-oiled engines are enabling them to dictate the pace of the game. Time for Weide to device a plan for McLucky to play more energy-efficient football against our much-fitter opponents.

Darren stays at left back while Huzer moves into goal to replace Alvin. Zhan Wei slips into right back while Sin Cheng replaces Chun Wei as the right winger. Chun Wei is substituted out at half time as he is feeling unwell and unable to continue to play for a prolonged period on the pitch. Leslie and Rayner retain their places in central midfield while Siu Chun is pulled back from a striker's role into a more attack-minded midfielder's role. Alvin goes straight up and will become McLucky's lone striker for the second half. McLucky will switch to a 4 - 5 - 1 formation after the break.

2nd Half Highlights

A much better start for McLucky in the second half as they get their first attempt on goal in the 47th minute (2nd half started from the 35th minute). From a corner, Rayner is able to get the ball under control and shoots on goal. Unfortunately the shot is weak and the keeper manages to save. After 52 minutes, Bingde is taken out and Chun Wei replaces him as the left winger. A heart-stopping moment occurs in the 55th minute when the oppositon pumps a long ball down the right. No.3 chases down the long ball and Huzer comes off his line to pressurise him into losing the ball. A collective sigh of relief could almost be heard when he succeeds in doing so.

In the 58th minute, the referee awards McLucky a free-kick outside HJT's penalty area. Siu Chun steps up to take it, but the ball sails just over and above the top left corner. 3 minutes after, HJT manages to break down the left and No.8 lets fly a long grounder which skids across the goal. The opponents signal their attacking intentions in the second half with a goal coming in the 63rd minute of play. No.19 crosses from the left and the ball evades everyone but No.11 for a easy tap-in into the back of the net. 2-0 to the opposition

McLucky get yet another chance to score from a dead-ball situtation in the 75th minute, but Leslie fires the free-kick straight at the keeper from 25 yards out. Almost immediately HJT launches a quick counter-attack which results in No.14 lobbing the ball over our goalkeeper after controlling a long ball from his keeper. 3-0 to HJT and all is not well for McLucky FC.

HJT are relentless in their attack and this time No.17 gets in a strong header that is on target but the keeper fists the ball upwards and catches it to nullify the danger. McLucky get their chance on goal in the 85th minute when Alvin has the goal in sight after being played through by a long ball from Siu Chun. However No.21 puts in a strong tackle and brings the ball away to safety. HJT still try to widen the scoreline in the 87th minute when No.11 tries to lob the keeper from 20 yards out. Fortunately our keeper recovers in time and prevents the ball from going into the back of the net.

The referee then brings a lively second half to a close with his whistle. The full time score read: HJT 3 MFC 0. Another defeat for McLucky FC. What can the team do to get their long awaited win? The full-time team talk beckons...

Post Match Sentiments

The scorching heat. Our sick right winger. Saturday's street soccer session under the hot sun. Superior fitness of the oppostion. All these culminated into the loss for McLucky FC. I was unable to obtain much post match comments but the above points mentioned were taken into view after much consideration. Trying to get the ball down the right flank was not really effective as our right winger, Chun Wei, had a sore throat that day and was not performing at his best. The hot weather did not help either as most of the players were still recovering from playing under similar weather conditions during saturday. Perhaps someone can come up with a training plan to help improve on our match stamina? Feel free to post your comments on the tagboard!