Match Review: Singapore Football Club vs Hotspurs FC

• GK Santino Shepherd
• DF Adam Wise
• DF Jahan Rezai
• DF Jack Cullinane
• MD Sam Gravatt
• MD Joe Claridge
• MD Maro Ramadan
• MD Anthony Garreau
• MD Nick Marsh
• ST Liam George
• ST Liam Shotton

• MD Soshi Kadowaki
• MD Rocky Amirahmadi
• ST Fazrul Nawaz

A good start to the game with majority of the possession and creating a few early chances after some well worked moves. However Hotspurs took the lead with a counter attacking move in the first half. We kept at it for the rest of the game dominating possession trying to break down a guarded defense. Quality prevailed in the second half with an excellent free kick from Joe Claridge and two superbly worked goals by Faz: first on the right with Rocky linking up with Liam Shotton to provide an inch perfect cross onto Faz’s head; second again on the right with Soshi’s top quality dribbling past 3 Hotspurs players again to cross perfectly into the box for Faz. Excellent character from our boys to persist until the very end. Thank you Hotspurs for a well contested game.

• Shalom Saw GK
• Oliver Roberts DF
• Simon Hearn DF
• Jordan Martin DF
• Jacob Hiscock MD
• Ross Cumming MD
• William Betts MD
• Jack Skinner ST
• Sam Russell-Vick ST
• Joseph Hughes ST
• Nick Kouvaritakis ST

• Lucas Jones MD

Subs Make the Difference

Hotspurs arrived at Dulwich College to play SFC buoyant by their commendable performances against the opposition last year, however the Hotspurs squad was rife with absenteeism. As a result, Hotspurs debuts were handed to Jordan, Shalom, and Lucas to make up a 12 man squad. Jack Skinners transfer policy of only signing players who support Chelsea paid dividends with Bill and Joe making their second Hotspurs appearance, however it was the latter who pulled up 5 minutes into the game, a real sucker punch for Hotspurs with only one sub available. This prompted an early introduction for young Lucas who demonstrated some positive early touches to link up play, all while his Dad was drinking frozen margaritas at the W Hotel. 20 minutes gone and Hotspurs took the lead thanks to a very well taken goal from Bill. Good work from Nick K down the left finding Bill who arrived late into the box and finished calmly with his left, reminiscent of Frank Lampard in his short spell at City. Hotspurs defended stoutly for the remainder of the half and could’ve gone into the break further ahead if it wasn’t for a good save from the SFC keeper to deny Nick K, who continued to be a nuisance for the SFC defence. The resolute defending continued into the second half, led by an impressive Jordan on debut and Jake at CB, and tirelessly working CMs in Ross and Bill. Another good save from the SFC keeper, this time to deny Jack meant Hotspurs knew they were in for an intense final 30 minutes with a bare 11 defending wave after wave of SFC attacks. The intensity nearly got the better of the normally serene Oli who petulantly chucked the ball away twice and could count himself lucky not to receive his marching orders. The SFC equaliser came on the 75 minutes from a direct free kick. With Hotspurs legs tiring and SFC taking full advantage through fresh legs, a winning goal came from one of the substitutes. Finally a third goal came following two substitutes combining to make the scoreline look harsh on Hotspurs. Final score SFC 3-1 Hotspurs Bemused by his nomination for DOD for his foul that led to SFCs equaliser in an otherwise faultless display, Bristolian Jake Hiscock gave his thoughts post match - “Hark at ee me luvver! I knew dreckly aafter I fouled him it was not ideal like. I thought we did a prrroperrr job defending for 75 minutes mind, great effort from the lads” A valiant display from Hotspurs, who on another day with more squad depth could have easily taken something from the game. Congrats to SFC for their persistence in attack and quality when it mattered. Next up for Hotspurs is Hibs next week #COYS