Bill, Mike B, Joel, Jamie G (Jenko), Gregg (Moose), Tom (Rob), Danny, Jeremie, Jayme (Simon), Jon C

By Danny Hinde

The game summed up Ubin’s season in many ways. Firstly, two of our starting 11 went to the wrong venue, not once but twice (Singapore Poly and then ITE Simei) resulting in Ubin starting with 10. Ubin then had the audacity to go 2 goals up against the Casuals with a combination of tenacity, controlled aggression and no little skill, then, equally promptly, disintegrated into the kind of chaotic display that has marred this season

Once Rob and Jamie had completed their tour of Singapore and taken to the field, replacing ‘Ten Minute Tom’ (much better than your other nickname). Ubin harried and hassled the Casuals as per the pre-match instructions and were rewarded with a great team goal as a sprayed pass from Jon C found Danny who set up Mike B at the edge of the penalty box. Best known for his heading ability, BMB, after a quick look up, sublimely lobbed the ball over a stranded Casuals keeper and into the back of the net…..1-0 to the Ubin

The lead was doubled shortly thereafter as Gregg drove a superb ball, low and hard into the box for Joel ‘the gambler’ Carpenter to slide into the back of the net. 2-0 and time to consolidate…..

…Not so, Ubin, as has been our achilles heel this season, froze and the Casuals came back into the game with two goals before half time…honours even at the break

Enforced changes at half-time lead to a reshuffling of the Ubin pack but confidence remained that we could take something from the game

Those of a black and blue spectacled persuasion would say that the game turned on the disallowing of an Ubin third goal shortly into the second half. After originally allowing the goal, the ref deigned to discuss with his linesman who decided posthumously that Simon had strayed into an offside position, seemingly ignoring the deflection off a Casuals defender (with his hand) which allowed the ball through

However, the truth of the matter is the Casuals had much the better of the second half and scored 4 goals as Ubin struggled. Two goals stand out, one a rasping shot from 25 yards and the other a somewhat wayward cross…..the ‘owner’ (Doug I think) was already apologizing to his team mates through multiple expletives as the ball left his foot, before watching it loop over Bill and into the top corner

A tough yet fair encounter, as it always is against the Casuals…