well hockey A divisions finally started, and we had our first match yesterday at CCAB. our game was the second match of the day, and we got to watch VJC play ACSI. well they are the 2 power houses that we will have to face eventually, and frankly i am both scared and excited to meet such strong foes. well the game ended in a victory for VJC by the score of 2-0. was very surprised that VJC won cos ACSI were the more skillful side.
our match against NJC was the second match of the day. we started off as underdogs,but we totally dominated the first half. NJC only had 1 chance at goal while we had multiple chances. i was doing well at my usual right back position. however, there were not much action along the right, so i ventured up to attack as samad gave me the freedom to roam up to attack. hahah. did a hell lot of running in the first half but the fucking problem is that although it only makes sense to attack from the right since its our strong side, somehow our play always goes to the left. and for most of the first half, all i did was run up and down the pitch screaming for the ball, but only receiving it a couple of times. i was so damn bloody open. ANGRY to the max....but we managed to score one goal, courtesy to a great pass from welly to reza who slotted the ball home. we were overjoyed and everyone rushed over to celebrate with reza. a very happy moment for us.
then comes the second half. seeing that i can also be a threat up front, samad redeployed me to the right wing position where i can do more running up and crossing back. but the same problem resurfaced, i was left to run up and down but not getting the ball. worst still, hendry, my replacement for right back didnt cover thr right at all, he kept roaming into the center and i had to dash all the way back a couple of times to cover him. SUPER tiring...then on one occasion, about 10mins into the second half, i finally received the ball at the center of the pitch. i dribbled down the right flank calmly and at optimum speed. passing two defenders during the process. then i waited and timed my cross into the D to perfection as i saw afiq, our j1 attacker waiting in position. i sweeped the ball across D and he connected with great timing to send us 2 goals up. i was so happy...seriously, i really thought this was our game. as for the first time in years, tpjc finally lead by a 2 goal margin in a A division game. hahaha. you see, for only the second time in the game did our attack came from the right and we scored. it was simple basic stuff. why cant we keep doing that??? i will never know...sianzzz. the first time we attacked from the right, we got a penalty corner. WTF right?? if only we attcked more from the right, cos this is not the end of it yet.
after the second goal, our defence got complacent and we conceded a very soft goal. this gave NJC some hope, and abit of panic to our side. seeing the situation where our middle was widely opened, samad redeployed me yet again to the middle to help hold things together. did okay only for a while as our attking options got lesser and lesser as we got tired. i was alrdy hitting on my after burner if u like during that time. whole body alrdy felt like lead as i wasted alot of energy running up and down previously. our cntral defence really broke down as we conceded yet another soft goal. really the central defenders to blame as they were not agressive enough. they kept back tracking, allowing the attackers to inch closer to our D. the thing is, the closer an attacker gets to the D, the higher his chances of scoring. and thats how the equaliser was scored. at that point, we were all tired and we started to give way. i was also very very tired, but samad still took a risk and redeployed me yet again to the left wing position. did abit of damaged by running at defenders with all i got and threatened abit, but it was no use if our defence was leaking goals, we finally crack when they scored the third goal, at the same spot yet again. at that time, it was alrdy near the end of the game and it was alrdy almost hopeless. afiq got another chance to score with a similar pass made by the RIGHT!!!, but he was unlucky dat tthe goalkeeper made a point blank block and the goal was prevented. the final whistle went off, and i was almost reduced to tears. i was damn sad and angry that we gave up our chance to win the game and we threw our hardwork all down the drain on the last 10-15mins....really really upset and disappointed.
sigh...but on the bright side, at least we are not at the bottom of our group as ACSI lost 2-0 to VJC and although they have the same amount of points as us, our goal average is better then them by -1, as we scored 2 conceded 3, whereas they scored none conceded 2. so for now they are below us on goal average...well,our next game will be this coming friday against JJC. supposedly an easier opponent compared to NJC, but i still fear for our defensive problems...keeping all fingers crossed...