Match Review: Singapore Football Club vs Hotspurs FC

• GK Nasri Suhaimi
• DF Jahan Rezai
• DF Daniel Bennett
• DF Roberto Bruce
• MD Nick Marsh
• MD Joe Claridge
• MD Michael Campion
• MD Sam Gravatt
• ST Shahril Ishak
• -- Ryosuke Ataku
• -- Akil Pompey

• DF Adam Wise
• MD Tom McElligott
• -- Matt Hulen

That’s Football

SFC went into the Friday night cosmo match with one of our strongest rosters of the season. The match started off a little cagey with both teams seeing what the other would give them. It was clear that SFC wanted to control the match through possession and that Hotspurs was happy to sit back and look for opportunities to counter. The first best chance came through Hotspurs as a nice sequence of play provided an opening for their RB to deliver a cross into the box. The delivery was very good but was missing a teammate on the end of it. But SFC could see the threat was real through crosses and set pieces and had to be smart. SFC were starting to find their feet in the match and were playing some lovely free flowing attacking play. However, whether a deflection, a block or what would become the theme of the evening - a great save, kept the score to nil-nil. Later in the first half another set piece opened the door for Hotspurs to threaten the SFC goal as they struck the post and so did Nasri (SFC GK) causing him to be substituted out for treatment. The second half looked much like the first with the message from SFC management to be patient and keep playing our game. Unfortunately, no matter what we through at Hotspurs’ GK (Rahman) he was up for it and made the save. First Akil thought he’d found the target from 25 meters out only to see his shot parried over the top. Next was Ataku to try from 30 meters out followed by Joe from 25 again. The match got a bit stretched for our liking and Hotspurs took advantage with a few counter attack opportunities that led to corners and caused us a bit of a scare. But we kept our composure and made a few tactical changes to shift the momentum again. At the end of the day it was football and sometimes you can do everything well and not get the result on the night. Massive credit to Hotspurs who came into the match with a plan and each player was on board and executed. Good luck to Hotspurs in their matches ahead.

• Fahmy Rahman GK
• Oliver Harbord DF
• Igor Stojanac DF
• Oliver Roberts DF
• Tom Ruffles MD
• Joshua Donavan MD
• Ross Cumming MD
• Ali Roseburgh MD
• Kieran McLaughlin MD
• Ross Lando MD
• Sam Russell-Vick ST

• Craig Hotchkiss DF
• Jack Skinner ST

SFC Held by Resilient Hotspurs

Following on from a spirited performance against Olympique Gaulois Singapore, Hotspurs looked to kickstart their campaign as they took on SFC under the Friday night lights at the Cage Sports Park. Morale in the Hotspurs camp was high as they welcomed back the newly married Lando and the talismanic Skinner. Hotspurs started the game well and looked assured as they settled into the game. Despite SFC having most of the possession in a first half lacking in guile, it was Hotspurs who went closest to taking the lead when a powerful header from the towering Roberts was tipped over the bar from the SFC goalkeeper. During the second half, SFC started to take control of the game but were matched by the efforts of the tireless midfield trio of Donovan, McLaughlin and Ruffles. The formidable centre-back partnership of Roberts and the commanding Roseburgh, deployed in the fourth different position in as many matches, stood firm to thwart the SFC attack. This was complemented by the calming presence of the experienced Stojanac and the composure of the outstanding Harbord. Ultimately, plaudits go to the acrobatic Rahman, who made a plethora of word-class saves to keep Hotspurs in the game. The signing of Rahman during the summer transfer window is already looking like a shrewd piece of business by Hotspurs as he has now kept 2 clean sheets in his first 3 three games. The match ended 0-0 in what was a dogged and resilient performance from the newly invigorated Hotspurs. Hotspurs would like to thank SFC for a greatly contested match and wish them the very best for the season ahead. Hotspurs now have a one week break before welcoming the International Lions to the Cage Sports Park on the 7th October.