RAIN UNITED
FOOTBALL CLUB
[ Friendly Match - 9th December 2006]
When - 9th December 2006 / 0900 am
Where - CCK Pitch
Who - Rain United (Red) vs Church of St Anthony's (White)
Final Score - 4 - 2
Another re-match before we take a one week break. This time, the opponent hopes to give us a surprise. With more friendlies, I hope Rain United will get more exposure and played better as a team in preparation for the match with the Old Boys' Association which has been arranged on 14th January 2007. Two other matches with Victoria Junior College and Public Utilities Board respectively will be announced when it is finalized.
The team line-up are as follows:-
Leonard Tan (6)
Thit Lwin (7)
Randy Chua (5)
Randy Zee (6)
Shang Pei (7)
Pako (7)
Gan Poh Ling (7)
Chen Qi (6)
Razzali (6)
Kenny (7)
Anand (7)
Cao Yuan (6)
Tan Keng Yong (5)
Lim Jia He (7)
Felix (7)
11th December 2006 - Rain United started the game relatively slowed and trailed with a second minute owned goal through defensive lapse.
After 15 minutes of play, thought that the team was not performing to its ability, I was glad to see Mr Aw coming up to the touch line to offer the team some instructions. The players were not putting up their play together. The team from Church of Saint Anthony's were seen pressing for their second goal.
Mid-way through the first half, thanks to a corner, Rain United equalised from Ah Long. The half-time scored was 1-1.
During the half-time, Mr Aw reminded the team about the team's passing and basic football. Razzali was also pressing for urge to play as a unit. I made some changes for the second half to try out some of the other players.
During the second half of play, we conceded yet another early goal. After another 10 minutes of play, I decided that I should stick to my tested players and deployed a more attacking play. I made changes again; Players whom have train regularly, whom I know what they were capable of producing, that best suited our style of play. I did not want to take risk anymore.
It was back to our normal football soon after. Tony was back to his normal in the flanks, Shang Pei and Kenny gave the opponents plenty to run in their strikers' role, Ah Long was switched to the left flanks to beef up the attacking play, while Pako and Anand controls the midfield. The team finally blends together. Saint Anthony's were fraustrated and were restricted to long range shots, when Rain United was finally playing and defending as a unit. The team piled on the attacks and were rewarded with 3 second half goals to make the final score 4-2.
There is still a long way more before we can take on better opponents. We have to get down to our basics in our throw-ins, fitness level, we were seen losing our sense of directions, pumping unnecessary long balls and passing without focusing in the first half, which can be suicidal. The team needs to blend and train as a whole. Some of the players were not able to understand the basic fundamentals of the football game and its positioning. They need to train regularly.
However, Felix, given his first game after training with us for some time did well in his role. I have long contemplating in wanting to try Felix out in earlier matches but I wanted to take a closer look at his overall interest and discipline. Kenny took instructions to move away from his marker, who was bend on man-marking him and did himself good with a good goal. Jia He played well after a poor match the week before. Max was Mr Reliable as usual. Ah Long needs to cool down. Tony is still not up to MY expectations just yet.
We will take a one week's break before training resumes. With 3 weeks away from the match against the Old Boy's Association, we hope to rectify our mistakes and learn from it. As mentioned, I will only want the best for the match against the Old Boys'. I am also looking forward to invite some new players to join us with the team and soon hope to target players for a joint team who may be good enough to participate in the ESPZEN league for 2007. Otherwise, I will stick with the usual of inviting only players who are keen to do well for themselves.
See you soon.