Kent Ridge - A dejected Delvin Ng left Kent Ridge after his error almost cost Myjia FFC three points against the Churchgoers of St. James FC.
Leading 1-0 after taking the lead through Chia Junhao's first goal of the season, all the stout defensive work marshalled ably by an impressive Jerry Lim threatened to come to nought in the 85th minute of the match. After scrambling out of a challenge against a charged up St James attack seeking an equaliser, Delvin carelessly thread a pass across the edge of the penalty box and with keeper Raymond Tan caught off-position, the teenage striker from St. James was able to intercept the pass and stroke the ball into an empty net.
St James which had previously defeated Myjia 2-1 in a similar fixture last season celebrated the equaliser with wild and youthful abandon while the more experienced Myjia side felt their hearts sink and wondered if their dreadful start to the season were to continue.
The honours to the match were rightfully returned to Myjia in the final moments of a match where they totally dominated the opponents but failed to make the dominance count. With virtually the last kick of the match, Chia Junhao doubled his tally for the season with a well-placed header off a Wai Meng corner to win Myjia all three points in a largely scrappy contest.
An ecstatic Ronnie celebrates at the winning goal.
In a first half watched by a crowd of 18, there were cause for concern prior to the match when a golf ball was flung over to the St James crowd. Credits to the St James supporters, their emotion were kept well in check.
Ten minutes into the game however, the St James supporters began the start of an emotional roller-coaster. A quick throw in by Junhao was beautifully met by Kenneth Koh's glancing header which cleared the keeper but not the frame of the goal. That was to be a prelude to multiple waves of attack launched by Myjia which were largely squandered by the wasteful Myjia attack.
Emerging midfielder from the Myjia Academy, Wilson found space on the left of the six yard box and his attempted shot was well blocked by the keeper before the referee blew for offside.
National serviceman Chan Mingchun had his fair share of chances in his first start for Myjia this season but alas his inexperience showed when he dallied in front of goal on ocassions when his partnership with Junhao upfront appeared to bear fruit.
Ageing midfielder Wai Meng was guilty of wasteful and arrogant finishing when he anticipated a freekick from Junhao and found himself with only the keeper to beat albeit from the tightest of angle and a bouncing ball. The midfielder discarded any thoughts of controlling the ball and squaring for any teammates and opted to do a-la-Zoltan Gera effort which was in the end, embarassingly sliced to the safety of the keeper's hands.
Myjia then had several more chances including long range effort by Kenneth and Wai Meng before a surge into the penalty box earned Myjia a soft penalty. Wai Meng looked to have atoned for his miss when his shot in the box was blocked by the defender. Curiously, the referee judged the ball to have been handled by the defender and Myjia captain Vincent Low picked himself for the penalty kick. It could have been justice at work when the player took a weak penalty straight at the keeper and the score remained 0-0 until half time.
Strategies were discussed and flying winger Jackson Seetoh replaced Ronnie Low on the left wing with the latter offering more defensive abilities but lesser penetration.
A constant menace to the St James defence, the winger burst through on several ocassions and when he eventually tire off, he had a glorious chance to cap off his hardwork on the left.
A short corner was taken quickly and then swung in by Wilson and met by Jackson. The power and technique were immaculate but for a little bit more luck and accuracy, the ball would have headed for the top corner instead of just clearing the bar.
Zhiwei called up from the Reserves squad was to make a telling impact in the second half soon after he stepped in as his searching ball found Junhao in the box and after a short melee involving Mingchun and defenders after Junhao's initial shot, the ball ricocheted to the latter who dispatched it with confidence to give Myjia a precious 1-0 lead.
Wilkin Tan showed his increasing aggression when his tackle almost provoked the right St James attacker into a retaliation. The Myjia defence held solid with Jerry launching himself into several well-timed sliding tackles until Delvin's uncharacteristic error almost cost Myjia the match.
As the players trooped out of the shower relieved to be back on winning ways again, a forlorn looking Delvin walked out Kent Ridge alone quietly.
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