Match Review: Hotspurs FC vs Singapore Football Club

• GK Martyn U'ren
• DF Aaron Jones
• DF James Keane
• MD Joshua Donavan
• MD Lionel Kong
• ST Thomas Greene
• ST Jack Skinner
• -- Joe Quinn
• -- Barry McVeigh
• -- Jonathan Drape-Comyn
• -- Mark Hadlow

• -- Russell Pereira Si-Hao
• -- Patrick Sheriff
• -- Robert Gorczynski

Keep palm and carry on!

Matchday two on our new home pitch in the jungle at Dempsey Field, we took on the newly reformed SFC. Two changes to the starting line-up but generally a similar squad which was unlucky not to get the opening day win last time out. Hotspurs started well, allowing SFC to keep the ball in their own half holding a solid shape across the park. Hotspurs unlucky to not break the deadlock after good play on the right wing allowed JD to break and strike narrowly over. Chances were few for both sides until just after the water break, a neat move finished with a goal, 0-1 SFC. Hotspurs losing two left backs to injury in the first half leading to a reshuffle and just before half time, the SFC winger forgot which sport he was playing and plucked the ball down with his arm and played in the striker to slot home. Hotspurs disputes were knocked back by the referee and the goal stood, 0-2. Hotspurs continued to keep threatening on the counter after the HT break and with our back line continuing to stand firm and restrict chances to SFC’s prolific striking duo, a 35 yard wonderstrike put us 0-3 down. Hotspurs had a great chance to get back in to the game with a free kick on the 18 yard line saved well by the keeper. Great work by Jack Skinner on the left forced another free kick, where the rebound was controlled and perfectly curled inside the right hand post by Lionel Kong, 1-3. Hotspurs continued to battle to get something from the game and in the last ebbs of the match, conceded a final goal to make it 1-4 SFC. The scoreline flattering SFC in a game which was a physical battle for both sides, we look forward to the next meeting. MOM for the second week running to Lionel Kong for putting in a great shift and grabbing a superb solo goal.

• Ronnie Smollett GK
• Jahan Rezai DF
• Collins Mbeutcha DF
• Jack Cullinane DF
• Liam Shotton ST
• Andrew Hutcheon --
• Doorjoo Dashnyam --
• Rob Benson --
• Ross Plain --
• Akil Pompey --
• Simon Lloyd --

• Sam Balls MD
• Aleksandar Duric ST
• Mike Hemmingway --
• Ross Macklin --
• Matt McCole --

DJ Dashnyam spins the decks as SFC take all 3 points

Singapore Football Club consolidated their healthy start to the season with a convincing 4-1 display, against an agricultural Hotspurs side, on Saturday. SFC is, reportedly, blessed with two DJs in their men’s squad. However, with the self-titled ‘DJ Titan’ unavailable for selection it was left to the more exotic DJ Dashnyam to provide the entertainment, at the Dempsey Dustbowl. The French-Mongolian maestro was at the heart of everything good for SFC. The first goal came courtesy of Andrew Hutcheon. Dashnyam threaded a neat pass through to the Stonehaven Stallion, who found himself in plenty of space before rifling a fierce shot straight past the Hotspurs keeper. SFC 1-0. Dashnyam continued to spin the decks; frequently gliding past numerous despairing Hotspurs’ lunges as SFC eventually extended their lead. This time the goal-scoring responsibilities fell to Liam Shotton, who was happy to oblige and finished with clinical disdain. SFC 2-0; which is how it remained going into the break. The second half began in much the same way as the first had finished, with the SFC rarely troubled at the back. Akil Pompey returning to the team, slotted into partner with Simon Lloyd and Jack Cullinane at the back. Meanwhile, skipper Jahan Rezai and Collins Mbeutcha calmly marshaled the centre of midfield barely breaking sweat. After a brief lull, SFC finally made it 3-0 in the 56th minute. Ross Plain, who had been working tirelessly down the left flank, found himself a few yards from the edge of the penalty area and sent his shot flying over the stranded keeper’s head. The scissorsmith’s favorite bagging himself an early contender for goal of the season. The goal finally seemed to inject some verve into Hotspurs, who began to find some rhythm. The home team’s hard work paying off as they pulled one back, with a very well executed finish by Lionel Kong, that left Ronnie Smollet little chance. 3-1. It was too little too late, for Hotspurs to salvage anything though. The earlier, fresh leg, introductions of Aleks Duric, Matt McCole, Mike Hemmingway and Ross Macklin started to galvanize SFC ‘s resolve once again. Jack Cullinane, taking inspiration from Dashnyam’s earlier slaloming runs, waltzed past three opponents before surprising all present with a backheel the through to Shotton. SFC’s man-mountain again finished neatly, bringing his afternoon’s tally to two goals and the final score to 4-1. Thank you to Hotspurs for a competitive, but enjoyable game.