Ronnie – Bowden, Wells, Goerojo – Anderson, Bates, An, Souiade, Alonso – Hutcheon, Donovan

Subs:

Tan S, Wilson S, Schick, Tan J,
Azran, Monaghan,

5pm kick-off on a rather dry and bumpy Dempsey field for the game of the day. SCC knows what to expect when playing Casuals, and once more it was no surprise… a physical but fair game, high intensity all over the park and passion on and off the pitch.

The title of the game report is unfortunately for SCC quite self explanatory. Early first goal after a defence misalignment calling for offside, and Casuals' striker made no mistake. Second goal and a poor defence clearing saw Casuals' midfield taking a beautiful volley from outside the box and top corner. A cracker indeed. 15' 0-2, and a hard journey ahead for SCC to come back in the game. The remaining 30mn of the half saw SCC waking up and starting to play their football, being composed on the ball, controlling the middle of the park, and going wide at times. A few good chances, but Bates, Paul ‘Ji-Sung’ or Hutcheon were all denied by the keeper, a defender’s leg or a head, but no luck and still 0-2 half time.

Plenty of talk at half time and hopes to come back in the game.

SCC played the second half as they finished the first. Well and wide at times - maybe not enough against physical and compact defence -, pressing all over the park and showing great character as usual in these circumstances. We created therefore many chances while Casuals players were operating only by counter attack. SCC defence and Bowden were handling Casuals' fast striker well this half. Many times during the past 24 months that saw SCC unbeaten in League games, we were rewarded for showing such character and great football. Nevertheless it will not happen today, and see an end to this amazing series. Paul ‘Ji-Sung’ was denied or missed from close range a few times, Hutcheon was closed to finish a few good crosses from Alonso, Souiade strike was saved on the line, Bowden got the post after a superb free kick... to only mention a few.

0-2 full time and a quiet SCC side, the taste of a defeat after such a long time is not good at all. We all have to learn from this lesson. We punished ourselves in the first 15mn, being a little unlucky at times is no excuse and vs. a spirited team with such quality as Casuals, it is too hard come back in the game. Congratulations to them for a great team display, they gave us hard time on each and every ball from first to last minute. Side note for Jamie Butler, hope you are recovering quickly mate for what seemed to be nasty knee injury.

MoM goes to Paul ‘Ji-Sung’ for a great display, tireless runs and for being our most dangerous man on the park. On another day he could have scored 2 goals at least, but as said above, it was just not the day!

Another great game next week vs. Swiss and SCC needs to re-focus, get heads up and start a new series, as a team.