2-4

goals (assist): jialong (weihua), kim hwa (kelvin tan)

Despite turning up with almost a full squad, DHS All Stars failed to defeat friendly-rivals Kawabanga FC. Playing against 10 men Kawabanga, Dunman disappointingly went 1 goal down from a one vs one situation. The team then equalised in controvesial circumstances – Jialong scoring from a header after Kawabanga defender went down clutching his ankle. Unfortunately, the team then conceded 3 weak goals through individual errors to end the half 1-4 down.

In the 2nd half, a more disciplined display from the midfield trio and decisive clearances from the defence kept Kawabanga on the backfoot for most of the half. Ziquan deserved the plaundits for a point blank save that kept the team in the game. Despite tired legs, the team kept trying and were rewarded when Kelvin Tan’s long shot struck the crossbar and Kim Hwa was at the right place to tap in to give the team hope. Ernest later had a great chance to pull the team level, doing well to round the keeper, but his final left foot shot was weak. Match ending 2-4 meant DHS All Stars started the year with an undeserved defeat.

One big positive from the game was the triumphant return of sweeper Seng Tat, whose presence in defence helped the team keep a clean sheet in the 2nd half. The manager is hoping to see more of him this season. Qihui also deserves credit for his persistent hounding of the opposition defence.

Seng Tat returns

Rightback Kelvin commented after the game, “I hate to admit it, but we were missing Gabriel.”.

Also absent were Ma”Kuey”lele, star defender/midfielder/striker Dua”IDBG”Tao, Wen”nene loves us”jie, Qian”Beauty World, cha cha cha”Chou, while Pang Yew and Yong Heng were awol….

Dunman AS was spectacular in the last three games of the previous season, scoring 16 goals and conceding just(?) 8; Which was enough to help the team retain its status in Division 1. Will the team be able to maintain its rich vein of form or is this prolonged break going to do more harm than good? Watch this space….

One particular suspect is DHSFC’s Captain Kim, who said after the match that “It’s nice to make others happy”. Ninghao “Clichy” also added “Merry Christmas”, reminding the team that Santa Claus is round the corner, yet again.

Nevertheless, there are a few positives. The teamwork seems to flow a lot more in the second half, and it seems like the standard of the division is not as high as expected. It is still possible to make a comeback. Plus with the return of inspirational sweeper Loh Kee Huat after 2 years of absence… his touches are still there, and it seems like he will play a bigger role in leading the team in the near future…. Gabe also promised to dedicate his next goal to Huat, unfortunately no one knows when it will come, if ever. By the looks of it, as Wenjie remarked, it will take a long long time.

Till next Sunday, everybody is to keep fit and get ready to get back to our winning ways.

DHSFC took it to the opponents immediately, creating chances right from the start. For the first five minutes, DHSFC were pushing ahead with some slick passing and movement on the pitch. After that, possession was fairly even between both teams, and Yongheng also took a potshot from just inside the box which the keeper stopped. Play continued with DHSFC causing some problems down the left and sweeping in two dangerous corners that Kaiqi almost converted and which the opponent keeper had a hard time gathering. Weihua then took an great shot at goal from a layoff, only to see the powerful shot rattle off the crossbar. Moments later, a cross floated in towards the far post and centre-back Jialong’s overlapping run found him taking a ferocious first time volley that went just inches above the crossbar. As Meirda seemed increasingly lost as to how to handle the DHSFC attack, Zhichen suddenly swept a chip from the right wing which beat the keeper and found the net. 1-0 to Dunman. Meirda had a couple of shots at goal in the first half, with a free kick that Labang saved nicely. Their no. 11 was the only danger upfront, but with Kelv and Jialong in the centre, his danger was well snuffed out.

The second half started with DHSFC bringing on some fresh legs to continue the momentum. They pushed forth periodically again, unable to penetrate as deep as they had in the first half. Kaiqi and Zhichen were still marshalling the midfield well, and DHSFC looked lively on the right wing, with Weihua overcoming his knee injury to cause enough problems for the opponents. The on-form Kim Hwa was put through by one of the passes from the midfielders and he toe poked a fast shot from inside the left of the penalty box. The angled drive was too powerful for the keeper to hold and he had to punch it upwards, and was damn relieved to see it ricochet off the crossbar again. The strikers almost pounced on the rebound, but unfortunately Meirda’s ang moh midfielder knocked the ball out for a corner in panic. Kim Hwa’s following corner created more danger, and DHSFC should have converted it again, but it was knocked out for a corner again. The siege proved to be successful as the next few plays saw Weihua send in a pinpoint cross from the right, finding Kim Hwa on the far post. The highly prolific Kim hwa added to his tally with a well taken first time volley that found the corner of the net. 2-0 DHS.

That was the turning point. DHSFC was cruising, only a chip from the opponents’ midfielder against the run of play pulled one back for Meirda, now playing with 3 strikers. More fresh legs were brought on for DHSFC, perhaps too many as the changes meant more adapting to the new formation and players. Dunman was highly unfortunate to hit the post again, this time with an exquisite half-volley from Kaiqi from just outside the box. DHSFC’s corners seem to be more and more lethal, this time Zhichen sent in a sweeping cross from the right corner, and the ever-reliable Ernest was there to head it powerfully towards the net. Somehow the ball struck the keeper and hit the underside of the crossbar, bouncing just off the line, and once again, the angmoh knocked the ball out in panic. The killer goal just wouldn’t happen for DHSFC. Then, a superb through ball from the midfield found Kevin, new to the team, clear of the last man. He raced through and 1-on-1 with the keeper, pushed the ball past the opponent keeper, only to be brought down inside the box. Two bad mistakes from the referee then: (1) 1-on-1 clear professional foul, only a yellow card was brandished. (2) the foul was inside the box, but he gave a freekick and refused to entertain any protests. Incidentally this was the ref who oversaw the match in which Qihui had his leg broken. The penalty would have sealed DHSFC’s victory.

And finally once again, against the run of play, a loose ball from Meirda’s midfield evaded the centrebacks, finding their striker who shot straight at Labang, who managed to push it upwards but luck was not with DHSFC, it bounced on the ground into the net.

A good game on the whole, and DHSFC certainly looked a much more stronger side than their opponents, who were absolutely delighted to snatch a point. DHSFC hit the woodwork 4 times and had many close chances, and an obvious penalty denied.

Positives: The midfield and defence showed signs of improvement, and Kim Hwa has found his scoring touch. The wings looked especially lively, and the centre midfield was distributing very well. Centre defence was quite solid.

Negatives: Teamwork can still be improved, as passing has been pointed out as DHSFC’s weak point by spectator -critic Adrian IDBG. The final pass needs to be improved. Tactics-wise, it would have been better if there was more organization and less abrupt changes. Possession and control of the game should be improved especially when the team is leading. Weihua might have aggravated his knee injury which hampered a little of his movement in the end of the second half.

Some fans of DHS AS have written in to express their delight at the sighting of Kee “sorry, you are?” Huat somewhere near China Town. The same sources report the ex-sweeper saying that he will make a return to the squad on 3rd May (2007?).  His presence has been sorely missed, but we hope he has kicked his alcohol addiction…