Match Review: Singapore Football Club vs TGA Rangers FC

• GK Ronnie Smollett
• DF Jahan Rezai
• MD Tim Walter
• ST Liam Shotton
• -- Andrew Hutcheon
• -- Mike Hemmingway
• -- Simon Lloyd
• -- Doorjoo Dashnyam
• -- Nico Anstee
• -- Rob Benson
• -- Akil Pompey

• DF Jack Cullinane
• DF Collins Mbeutcha
• -- Matt McCole
• -- Matt Hulen
• -- Hiroyuki Ochiai

Champions Fight Back

Singapore Football Club saved their worst performance of the season, for the visit of reigning Cosmo League Champions, TGA Rangers. The home side took the lead through a Liam Shotton hotshot, after the Stoke striker had slalomed past two defenders. 1-0 SFC. Not to be outdone, Nathan Bryer then stepped up and smashed an equalizer into the SFC net, just five minutes later. The Rangers’s midfield dynamo being given plenty of time on the edge of the box, to settle and pick his spot. 1-1. The game continued to be played at quite a pace, with SFC’s DJ Dashnyam looking dangerous whenever he got on the ball. Finally, in the 22nd minute Shotton again found space down the left flank. This time beating three defenders before a fourth lunged in, giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Tim Walter promptly stepped up and dispatched the spot kick to give SFC a narrow lead at the break. Half time: 2-1. The second half started well for SFC following some small tactical changes. SFC’s third goal was started and finished by French Maestro, DJ Dashnyam. DJ started by winning the ball back on half way line, before laying the ball out wide to Shotton. The big No.14 then hit the ball wide to Rob Benson, who promptly fed Andrew Hutcheon upfront. The obdurate Scotsman then proved that old dogs can learn new tricks, as he flicked the ball over his defender with his left foot. The onrushing Dashnyam then completed the move, by finishing deftly across the keeper. 53minutes played, 3-1 SFC. At this stage, the game should have been over. However, Rangers had other plans. Showing the hallmark of Champions, TGA fought their way back in to the game, making it 3-2. There was still a long way to go at this stage, but SFC confounded the situation by being uncharacteristically sloppy in possession. A third goal for Rangers, to bring the sides level was scored, with ten minutes remaining. 3-3. Finally, in the last few minutes Pat fox reacted, first after a good save by Smollet, to make it 3-4. Congratulations to Rangers who were deserved winners in the end. For SFC a bad day at the office, and one to forget. MOM for Rangers: Nathan Bryer.

• Mohamad Azhar Bin Ab Kader GK
• Fraser Anderson DF
• Hiromitsu Nakaue DF
• Taishi Fukuda DF
• Jonathan Cloak DF
• Jordan Laing DF
• Scott Prior MD
• Nathan Bryer MD
• Ryan Shanter MD
• Mike Sharples ST
• Aaron Clancey-Agius ST

• Patrick Fox DF
• Samuel Bernard MD
• Victor Felicia MD
• Jonathan Lukito MD
• Rob Whitworth --

Dramatic come-back-victory by fresh legs!

Missing few players for being away and suspension, added up several fresh players in goal and striker. The match is against the big rival and the top of the table, how it could not be excited. However, the opening goal was quickly made by SFC by one of the best striker with lightening shot from the edge of the box. Yet Bryer answered back with even more lightening shot 5 mins later, making it 1-1. Still the game didn't go with our favour, let a lead by them as 1-2 by a bit of doubtful penalty decision. It became even 1-3 right after halftime, looking at severe status at the time 40 mins to go. Yet overall Rangers played well composed and possessed, as the manager told that is crucial for the game today, learning from previous crash at cup tournament a couple month ago. That naturally created more chances, and finally grab a chance from very finely distributed by Buchan into the space between SFC defence and keeper, where surprisingly our left-back running into (i think he lost his way and happened to be there), touched the ball to hit a chest of keeper and found Agius's header to put into net, making 2-3 getting back to the game. Perfect timing for our fresh legs in attacking appears in last 20 mins, Sam Bernard made a change by scoring his first goal in 10 mins from Sharples's cross to equalize a score line and that makes him to tell its story forever to his mate. Our dramatic game today was yet ended, kept trying one more in last 10 mins, especially Bernard tried to make a history in the team, aiming for second goal to make 2 goals in 20 mins (score every 10 mins in the top amateur league in Singapore), although his aim didn't realize, his critical shot is bounced by Ronnie and it found our another fresh legs and yet being teenage Fox, his header made our score line 4-3 just before whistle blown! MoM goes to golden boy Bernard, thanks for adding great history to the team. We all enjoyed a tough game and our great revenge back to SFC. Thanks for generally fair-play throughout a game, see you SFC in second leg in the season.