On a fine day at Technic college ground, Ramblers met FBN after a previous day's showdown with the team's management. Whilst some players asked for a change in organisation, they probably didn't mean that the manager should forget to bring all the balls! Max elected to got with a 4-5-1 formation with the pacy wingers, Keon and Ming, down the wing and the passing trio of Jason, Au and Derek in the middle of midfield supporting the lone man, Heng up front. The defence saw the new partnership of Chard and Keong in the centre with Tee Oon and Michael on both flanks whilst manager Michael kept his white shirt in goal.
It was a quick start from the visiting team as they quickly got into their stride against a FBN team who hadn't warmed up properly. Ramblers looked to play a more deliberate patient game and it seemed to work to an extent as they gained a succession of corners. It was from this source that the goals came from - Michael was given the ball on the left side of the penalty area and he curled in a wonderous shot that ended up in the top right corner. Heng's goal was just as impressive as he volleyed a ball straight from Ming's corner kick. Premiership strikers would have been proud to have these shots captured on camera.
There shouldn't have been any way back for the FBN but Ramblers were welcoming guests as Chinese New Year drew to a close. Their short pacy striker had already threatened several times on the left as he raced across the back line and he really didn't need any more help with some terrible passes by the defence and the old ball going under the feet of several midfield players. Jason in particular looked a bit match rusty at times and this carried through to the rest of the midfield which looked a little bit nervous.
Michael had already saved a one on one but he couldn't stop a neat finish after aforementioned pacy striker ran between our centre halves to collect a ball that had previously threatened our defence several times. For all of Ramblers dominance, they could only carry a one goal lead into the half time break.
With seven players on the bench, there were many changes and the second half saw a revived Ramblers coming out in the 2nd half as they started the 1st - on the attack -in particular down the right. Keon's shots were pushed around the post twice as he outpaced the defence to get onto Benny's through balls whilst Derek failed to put away his chance when he returned on the pitch. However Siang showed them that accuracy was more important than power as he went on a mazy cross field run before passing the ball into the bottom right hand corner and again, it felt as if Ramblers couldn't possibly lose it.
But in the spirit of the Ang Pow giving season, FBN caught us on the break. Three times. Resulting in three goals. It would be enough for an AC Milan coach to tear his hair out but when Ken steered the ball between the new keeper and Chard on the line, it looked to be no more than a consolation. However things looked to be more ominious after Chard was pushed on the half way line whilst challenging for a header but the devilish Ken put a through ball in for another striker to run in between Max and our other new centre half, Ah Seng. The equaliser duly arrived and the game looked to be heading towards an energetic 3-3 draw.
Sadly for Ramblers, Chard looked to be harshly judged as the referee gave a penalty in favour of FBN after a challenge by the centre back. The new keeper dived right but not far enough as FBN completed a comeback worthy of Rafa's team leaving the visitors mystified as to what went on / wrong. Max's post game team talk (which was good!) gave Benny praise for his creative input but lambasted the rest of the midfield for not giving enough cover. Maybe this defeat was good for us in the long run because the manner of the defeat from such a position of strength should cause us to ask questions.
It was a quick start from the visiting team as they quickly got into their stride against a FBN team who hadn't warmed up properly. Ramblers looked to play a more deliberate patient game and it seemed to work to an extent as they gained a succession of corners. It was from this source that the goals came from - Michael was given the ball on the left side of the penalty area and he curled in a wonderous shot that ended up in the top right corner. Heng's goal was just as impressive as he volleyed a ball straight from Ming's corner kick. Premiership strikers would have been proud to have these shots captured on camera.
There shouldn't have been any way back for the FBN but Ramblers were welcoming guests as Chinese New Year drew to a close. Their short pacy striker had already threatened several times on the left as he raced across the back line and he really didn't need any more help with some terrible passes by the defence and the old ball going under the feet of several midfield players. Jason in particular looked a bit match rusty at times and this carried through to the rest of the midfield which looked a little bit nervous.
Michael had already saved a one on one but he couldn't stop a neat finish after aforementioned pacy striker ran between our centre halves to collect a ball that had previously threatened our defence several times. For all of Ramblers dominance, they could only carry a one goal lead into the half time break.
With seven players on the bench, there were many changes and the second half saw a revived Ramblers coming out in the 2nd half as they started the 1st - on the attack -in particular down the right. Keon's shots were pushed around the post twice as he outpaced the defence to get onto Benny's through balls whilst Derek failed to put away his chance when he returned on the pitch. However Siang showed them that accuracy was more important than power as he went on a mazy cross field run before passing the ball into the bottom right hand corner and again, it felt as if Ramblers couldn't possibly lose it.
But in the spirit of the Ang Pow giving season, FBN caught us on the break. Three times. Resulting in three goals. It would be enough for an AC Milan coach to tear his hair out but when Ken steered the ball between the new keeper and Chard on the line, it looked to be no more than a consolation. However things looked to be more ominious after Chard was pushed on the half way line whilst challenging for a header but the devilish Ken put a through ball in for another striker to run in between Max and our other new centre half, Ah Seng. The equaliser duly arrived and the game looked to be heading towards an energetic 3-3 draw.
Sadly for Ramblers, Chard looked to be harshly judged as the referee gave a penalty in favour of FBN after a challenge by the centre back. The new keeper dived right but not far enough as FBN completed a comeback worthy of Rafa's team leaving the visitors mystified as to what went on / wrong. Max's post game team talk (which was good!) gave Benny praise for his creative input but lambasted the rest of the midfield for not giving enough cover. Maybe this defeat was good for us in the long run because the manner of the defeat from such a position of strength should cause us to ask questions.
(written by Reporter Derek)
.JPG)
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