record maintained

REPORTED BY KEN WONG

Full Time: ODS 3 - 0 Marine Sunday(Half time: 0 - 0)
Scorers: Irwin(x01), Osman(x01), Mr Sng(x01)
Man Of Match: Cheen Meng
Yellow Card: Rosk

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Starting Line-Up
GK: Kee Yong
Def[L-R]: Chee Mun, Kiran, Rosk, Ken Wong
Mid[L-R]: Irwin, Aidil, Denis, Cheen Meng
Striker: Vincent, Liang Han

A classic derby, as I would describe today's match. It is almost like the derby of Manchester, United against City, or derby of Merseyside, Liverpool versus Everton. Fiercely contested. Especially when Marine Sunday has never beaten ODS in the past ten years. The closest they ever came was a 3-3 draw in August 2009. They were leading 1-3 at half time only to have their hearts broken in the dying mintues of that match when ODS Gary got the late equaliser.

As such, it was no surprise with all the high flying tackles coming from all over the place, but mostly from Marine Sunday.

Cheen Meng was the victim of many such tackles. Aidil too, was caught in a two-footed sliding tackle, but to ODS horror, referee waved play on.

The opening stages were dull, both sides struggling to find the rhythm. Marine Sunday was more concerned with taking on player for player rather than playing football. ODS found space extremely limited, movement restricted, even our frontman Liang Han was often caught in a wrestling match more than anything else.

ODS had Kee Yong to thank for keeping shots out. ODS defence did well to force to the opponents to shoot from outside the box, which were merely routine for Kee Yong to keep the shots out.

Rosk has to get himself into the referee's book with a blatant handball. Yellow card for intentional handball, unsporting behaviour.
The opponent got one yellow for kicking the ball away after conceding a freekick.

Upfront, ODS was not having much luck either. The only good move in the first half came from Cheen Meng, a through ball found him shaking off the pesty defence and scoring from the near post. But the goal was ruled out for offside, much to ODS disgust, as it was clearly onside.

The match remained goalless at half time.

Half time.

2nd Half Line-Up
GK: Kee Yong
Def[L-R]: Cheen Mun, Kiran, Rosk, Yang Song
Mid[L-R]: Osman, Vincent, Cheen Meng, Aidil
Striker: Irwin, Liang Han

ODS made a few changes at half time, with "dangerman" Osman going in.
ODS started making use of the width, Aidil sending a few crosses from the right.

ODS could have scored much earlier if not for the heroics of Marine Sunday who made a few brilliant saves, including one reflex save that kept the ball out with the shot coming from only a metre away from goal.

ODS finally broke the deadlock, a cross coming from the right by Aidil, and Irwin providing the finishing touch. Irwin originally had wanted to control the ball, but the ball bounced off his boot studs and "caught the keeper off guard" as he can only watch the ball spin in the air over his head into the back of the net.

1-0

The game was almost called off when the opponents protested against a foul made by them. They got the ball, except that the tackle was from the back and they got the player together with the ball. The referee was challenged, and the game was nearly called off.

In a counter attack, after a few passes through the middle, Cheem Meng raced to the byline. Kiran sped all the way from defence and was anticipating the cross to come. Cheen Meng squared the ball across goal, and Kiran was inches away from reaching the ball as it rolled out for a goalkick.
From the sideline, it was suggested that perhaps Kiran was too slow. When you see Cheen Meng running towards the byline with the ball, you have to be ready at the far post. And Mr Sng showed how it should be done with the third goal of the game.
Kiran contested against the comment that he was too slow, claiming that he ran all the way from defence, only to be hit with another statement that it was his vision which was too slow. Ouch.

ODS made a couple of changes, Ken Wong going in for Chee Mun, Mr Sng for Irwin.

ODS then killed off the game with 2 quick goals.

A good move that started from the back.
Cheen Meng releasing Liang Han with a beautiful through ball. Keeper came off his line attempting to collect the ball, but Liang Han put in a strong challenge and the ball rolled to Osman who put the ball into the empty net.

2-0

Next, Cheen Meng was the director of the move again.
He stole the ball with his sneaky move, raced towards the byline and cut the ball across goal. Mr Sng, having read the move, was in the correct position for a simple tap-in.

3-0

ODS with the win already sealed, was concerned with keeping a clean sheet now. Defence worked extremely hard to keep the opponents at bay.
This is only our second clean sheet of the year.
A victory coming at the expense of rivals Marine Sunday who has been on a good form of late.

Till we meet again, we are still unbeaten.

Announcement: Phototaking session on 27 Feb 2010 before the game. Lou Hei dinner after the game.