Ronnie – Bowden (Ong), Wells, Yeo – Bates (Azran), Anderson, Rogers (Paul ‘Ji-Sung’ An), Souiade (Tan), Alonso (Sutton) – Hutcheon, McCarvel, Not Used Daud

A dry and bumpy pitch at Dempsey was welcoming another SCC vs. Ubin, 2 weeks after a tough encounter in Cup Game that saw SCC getting a winner goal in the last minute!

Back to league game, and the talk by captains Wells and Rogers was about playing our passing game when on the ball and putting Ubin players under pressure when not. The other key message was about concentration, from first to last minute to avoid any bad surprise and late equalizer as per our last game vs. Ubin.

This was heard by the SCC lads and done pretty efficiently from kick off. Passing was flowing well and wide with a few early crosses in the box, pressing was high all over the park, second balls were for the lads in Yellow... Ubin were defending well though and looking for quick counter attack. On one of them, Ubin played well and got a nice goal, 1-0 down, 15’. SCC lads took it up right away with calm and we just kept playing our game. We knew we were on the right path, and therefore it did not take long to see another great move down right with Bates and Anderson combining well to find Hutcho in the space for a wonderful strike to goal… The keeper could only deflect it back into McCarvel’s head and made no mistake, 1-1, 20’. Minutes late, after another good move on the left, Alonso crossed quickly for Hutcheon’s header who got a well deserved goal, 2-1 up, 25’. SCC lads reversed the situation in no time, great attitude indeed. A few other good chances from wide before half time not converted, but all in all good 1^st half from the lads in Yellow.

Half time discussions were quite simple. Keep playing well and wide and try to score a third goal as early as possible.

Well I guess Ubin had other plans, and despite the fact that SCC lads were not playing as well as in the first half, we still managed to create a few chances but all denied by Ubin keeper or the net behind the goal…. There are days were you somehow struggle to score even though you are dominating the game all over the park. On those days, especially being 1 goal up, you need to control the game and avoid any counter attack or unnecessary free kicks. 5 minutes to go and SCC under control, until a long range free kick from Ubin in the box, and unfortunately for SCC, the Ubin striker was faster and got the rebound, 2-2, 85’. Game on!

To be fair it is a bit unlucky for the lads in Yellow to concede a goal on one of the only Ubin chance in second half. On the other hand, they have never given up and were still fighting hard to stay in the game and hoping for a chance to equalize. They got it and therefore deserved it, that is soccer I guess! Having said that, and once again this season, even with only a few minutes to go the SCC lads just gave it a chance and still wanted the 3 points, showing strong commitment and great character. On the kick off, flying Azran was sent down the right wing to take on his defender and a powerful long range strike that the keeper could only push back into McCarvel’s foot who made no mistake once again, 3-2 up, 86’. The last few minutes proved the remarkable depth of the SCC bench and the impact from the subs. Azran who created chances, Sutton handling the ball well, Tan and Ong helping out in defence and new coming Paul ‘Ji-Sung’ An who showed sharpness and great skills driving the ball in the middle of the park. Sorry for the others who never came in.

MoM is a difficult call today, with our strikers scoring the 3 goals, our centre midfield tireless runs, our wingers crossing and creating many chances, our solid but unlucky defence… it goes to Rogers for a classy game, for being our technical touch and adding value in our midfield... You might have been French in a previous life to have such flair mate!

A spirited performance for both teams today, and thanks for a great game. We wish the best to Ubin for the remaining of the season, you deserve more points in this league playing as you did twice in a row against us!

Thanks to the referees, good game as usual.

We are playing Latini next week for what will be a tough game, we all need to train hard this week to be ready!