MOM: Jinesh Patel

Goal Scorers:
Vip Samarakoon 25
Si Wei Geh 60

A cracking start to Sporting TGA’s Div 3 season, with some moments of individual class (in particular MOM Jinesh Patel), and an overall cohesive new outfit.

After a shaky start with some tentative shots from Transvert Scaffold, Sporting’s midfield began to dominate the game providing some great cover for our solid back three and improvised goalkeeper, who wasn’t tested for the majority of the first half. Just over halfway through the first half Vip was unleashed down the left flank and cut inside to smash in our first goal at a seemingly impossible angle. Raised eyebrows all round as we realised we might be able to pull something out of the bag with a rag tag crew who had only met each other half an hour before. Half time 1-0 TGA.

Into the second half and a change of keeper with Tom Hutton trying his hand between the sticks. Speaking on behalf of the whole team it’s fair to say the big man had a bit of a shocker, with the equalizer coming from a fumbled clearance that bounced onto the noodle of the oncoming Transvert forward. 1-1. Not to be disheartened and with Hutton’s compusure regained, we rallied from the back and after some slick passing through the midfield delivered the ball to the inimitable Si Weh, looking up once before driving the ball flush past the keeper from 25 yards, who got his finger tips to it as it flew into the top right.

Never giving up our attacking mentality we steeled ourselves for a final 15 minutes of pressure, which duly came. Five minutes from time the defence was opened up as Transvert attacked, with our sturdy right back sprinting back for what can only be called the challenge of the match which was, to our utter dismay, penalised for a penalty. Despite some elaborate posturing and face pulling from our keeper, the penalty was neatly put away before the final whistle a few minutes later.

Aside from the lads mentioned above, special mention must go to the other engine of the match, Nick, whose tireless work over 80 minutes was well recognised. Overall a great performance all over the park – I genuinely think we can only get worse – and played in the right spirit by both teams.