Club M 1-0 Tanglin FC : FT Report

 

 

Difficult start for Club M

Clementi – Club M had a tough start to the Clementi Mini League 2005 (part of the GAF League) against minnows, Tanglin Club. The dodos managed to scrape up a 1-0 victory after an almost one-sided game. The dodo's captain took a calculated risk by fielding two players still nursing injuries - Brian and Charles.

But his gamble paid off as Charles scored the only goal of the match in the first 10 opening minutes. The dodos started the game on the offensive and had a physical advantage over the young lads from Tanglin FC. However, the opponents took full advantage of the referee's inability to catch off-sides by waving at him each time a dodo player was sent clear of the defence. The ref got it wrong a couple of times throughout the game. This added to the frustation of the dodos not being a able to find the back of the net.

The dodos' nerves were finally eased after Charles scored with a header at the far post from a Dickson's corner. Great relief it was for the dodos who created a dozen more scoring chances but the dodos lacked the finishing touches to kill off the opponents. Five minutes after the first goal, Alwyn found the back of the net after tapping in, from close range, a pass from Charles. But celebrations were short-lived as the goal was ruled out for off-side. The dodo's 2004 top marksman had another great chance to double the score minutes later after he intercepted a bad clearance from the keeper, who was way out of his goal posts. He chipped the ball over the keeper but his shot flew just above the bar.

Club M inherited numerous corner kicks in the first half but failed to score again, after Charles's header. The opponents had a rare scoring chance midway through the half when their attacker created enough space for a shot inside the penalty box, in a quick and well-built counter-attack. His shot, however, was not powerful enough to trouble the dodo's keeper.

The second half saw Club M create at least 3 clear cut chances to score but lady luck was not in the dodos' camp. Nicolas came off the bench and had an instant impact on the game as he dribbled his way past 3 defenders and found himself with only the keeper to beat. He chose placement over power and missed the target by an inch. He was again found in a similar situtation minutes later and this time went for power, but his shot went wide of the far post.

The opponents showed signs of fatigue in the second half but took the dodos' defence by surprise midway in the half when a long clearance from the Tanglin Club keeper fell behind the defence. The dodo's keeper was quick to react to head the ball clear of danger outside the penalty area. In the dying minutes of the game, Tanglin Club went all-out trying to salvage a point from the game. The dodos kept their cool and foil all their offensive play.

In the end, the dodos managed to preserve their 1-0 advantage, which clearly did not reflect the big disparity between the 2 teams. The dodos will have to work very hard in order to win this league, if judged by the dodos' finishing touches in this game. Tougher opponents are looming in the horizon and a great challenge awaits the dodos!

 

Thierry

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