Mens prem CSC 4th may match report

Match Report Mens Premier League

Tornados 1^st XI vs CSC 1^st XI, Saturday 4^th May, push back 4.30pm

 

Half Time 2 – 0 (Weislogel 16min, King 25min)

Full Time 3 – 0 (Ayasse 39min)

Attendance – 19

 

By Olly King

 

Tornados men's premier squad entered their 3^rd match of the season undefeated. Lining up against a remarkably familiar CSC outfit who were conquered 4 – 1 last weekend the mood in the camp was positive. Our squad of 15 included Beer and Headly who were again available and fit to play respectively. Klimcke and Fis were not available for selection and Apperly had rudely, fucked off back to the UK. Beer slotted into Apperly's shoes in the middle of the park with Hill and coach lined the team upfront with a high forward in front of a further 3 forwards in an attempt to take the game to CSC and over load their defence. Game plan = attack!!!

 

The sweltering conditions, under the heat of the afternoon Singapore sun, were felt by both teams. Match pace was below our standard zipping-the-ball-around-selves. Play was further slowed with bouncing passes and miss-traps galore causing of frustration all over the pitch. CSC never really look a threat to our defence, with their signature aerial passes from their defence rarely being controlled or quickly being neutralized by our solid defence. CSC's biggest threat of attack was invariably charitably facilitated by ourselves conceding possession with stray passes, rather than CSC challenging for the ball or dominating possession.

 

The dead-lock however was broken mid-way through the first half. Weislogel received the ball in CSC's half, following a transfer from right to left, who went on an attacking run using those silky skills Mayes had taught him. In the D Weislogel withstood several desperate 'axe'-like challenges from CSC defence to squeeze the ball along the baseline, past the keeper and across the line into the goal. Celebrations were immediately quashed by the umpire who had decided in her better wisdom to award a penalty corner one thousandth of a second before the ball crossed the line. Justice was however restored when Weislogel, quite fittingly, converted Maing's drag flick rebound from the penalty corner. 1 – 0 Tornados. Game on.

 

Tornados put together further periods of fluid hockey with the ball working its way up the lines to the industrious forwards running into the spaces and stretching CSC's defence. Premature attacks before midfield support arrived or inappropriately taking of awarded free hits by the forwards before the team had re-grouped in CSC's half lead to turn overs and the squandering of hard calorie-fuelled passages of play. On other occasions slow transfers around the back allowed CSC to cut off the lines limiting the number of times the ball made it up to the forwards. Amidst these passages play we reverted back to our 'standard' 4-4-2 line up, though not all received the memo leading to confusion up front.

 

Despite our chaotic on the pitch structure the Tornado's tireless work rate carried them through and were rewarded with another break through late into the first half. After an attacking run and great stick skills by Ayasse from the left along the baseline he got his feet around the ball to cut the ball back, by-passing three CSC defenders, to an unmarked King. King proceeded to have a ridiculous 'windmill'-wind up from the penalty spot to place the ball perfectly down the middle through the keeper's legs into the goal. 2 – 0 Tornados. Marching on.

 

The half time whistle could not come soon enough with fading Tornados bodies. Coach spoke at half time to concentrate on ball retention to protect our lead, in particular being more selective when we chose to push forward. More efficient movement of the ball around the back as well as improving communication were also remarked.

 

Ayasse was clearly motivated by these preachings to produce a goal worthy of a nomination for goal of the season. Tornado's had set up camp in the CSC half from the re-start, pressing from the outset as coach had originally asked us to do. A passage of attacking open play saw the ball fall to Ayasse on the right in our opponents 25. Ayasse weaved his way to the top of the D where he unleash a rocket of a reverse stick shot into the right side board of the goal by-passing a crowd of CSC defenders and their flapping keeper. 3 – 0 Tornados. Naturally the travelling supporters erupted in jubilation.

 

The third goal gave Tornados a solid handle on the game. However, under the cooler second half conditions CSC were rejuvenated and put our defence under periods pressure. We conceded several penalty corners that were efficiently dealt with by Sankalp and our defence ensuring the score line remained protected. CSC were getting frustrated with their efforts failing to reduce their goal deficit and began squabbling amongst themselves mainly directed at their number 8 at the back who continued to launch ineffective aerial balls to noone deep into our half.

 

Tornados produced further intermittent good passages of fluid hockey with the ball nicely working its way to the forwards up the flanks more consistently than in the first half. CSC atrocious defensive tackles in their own 25 awarded us a couple of penalty corners, offering Maing the opportunity to practice his drag flicks, which were creeping ever so close to being within the three white posts. Despite our efforts we could not better the score line.

 

The second half was perhaps summed for CSC by their number 8's frustrated, reckless rugby-like challenge on Ayasse in their own D in the dying seconds. He received a yellow card and a walk of shame to the dug out amidst cheers from our loyal supporters in the grandstand. Final score 3 – 0. Clean sheet. Job done. Next match, Police re-match!