St Wilfred, Singapore.
Chestercity takes on Hilderinc FC for a second time this season after their initial game at Woodlands Secondary was called off at half time due to heavy rain and unplayable conditions. Before the game, referee came to City's side and hand over a police report made by the Blacks regarding remarks made by City camp. Referee met up with city captain Indra and coach before the game trying to calm the intense pressure and making sure the match will not boil over. City told the referee that they only wanted to play and promise the referee that the match will not be a heated one.
City started the match with the same players who started the match against the Blacks at Woodlands Secondary naming Safiuddin in goal, Hairull at left back, Indra partnering April's Player of the Month Fred in centre of defence and Jelson restored at left back. The 5 across midfield saw Anon at right mid, Brahim and Ryan as holding midfielders, Jeremiah at left wing and Naufal a free role behind the lone striker Gabir. City also had a strong bench in Bob, Faizal, Hakim, Hafiz, Faizal and Tevez who are eagerly waiting in the wings.
Before the kick off, Coach Ridwan warned the players of their tackles and to walk away of any provocation hence offering a handshake if decision goes against them.
Kick off, City started brightly and quickly, sending quality passes to feet and within 7 min, they were one up. Sending a defence spliting pass to the onside Gabir, the latter was thru one on one with the keeper and beautifully slot it past the onrushing keeper. 1-0. Hilderinc FC then pushes forward, its certainly a wake up call for them as they pressured in City's half but could not find the end product which prove to be City's gain as they add a second in the 15th min. Starting the move, Gabir skips past Blacks midfielder lays the ball to Miah who found Anon with a acute chip, the winger than provides a return of a quality measured cross to Miah who rose higher than any player to sends a fantastic header past the despair goalie. 2-0 to the good.
Blacks then had a couple of chances to reduce the deficit, one header going wide and a long range freekick went whisker away from the goalmouth. Hilderinc then got penalty claim waved away by the referee after he awards an indirect freekick after their captain Ian Morris was judge to be impeded unintentionally in the box with a high boot. The effort goes wide and referee brings the half to a close.
Second half saw City makes a couple of changes, the subs on the bench caming on for Naufal, Ryan, Miah, Brahim, Jelson and Hairull. City certainly looking to keep fresh legs on the pitch under the heat. Straight from the restart, City scored. 2 subtitutes combined when Bob found Hakim and the maestro delightly lob it over the onrushing goalkeeper. 3-0.
City then slow their game, put their foot off the gas pedal and that proves a setback after their recent new signing heads into the net with Safiuddin only manges to palm it in. 3-1 in the 60th min. City then up their tempo, 3mins later, they were back to their 3 goal advantage when maestro Hakim did well yet again on the wings lays it to the unmarked Tevez who scores the simpliest goal of his City career by tapping it into an empty net. 4-1.
The Blacks then pushes forward, pressurizing every single ball. They had a goal bound freekick tipped away by the excellent Safiuddin who makes another stop minutes later to deny the Blacks with an outstanding parry for a corner while caught in no mans land.
With nothing to spare, City created a lot of chances but failed to add to their tally and referee finally brings the match to an end with City victorious.
City coach Ridwan commented, "Well, first of all on behalf of City, I would like to apologize to Hilderinc's camp for the remarks that was made but in football you can expect that to happen just like the merseyside, manchester, milan, madrid, tenneside derby. It all happen. In paper its seems that everyone expect it to be a hostile match but in City we play football to win and not to fight. I just told my players to concentrate on winning and they did. We never let such inceident affect us cause the first 11 today was involved in the Woodlands match and they feel distraught when something is taken away from them after a hard work performance. Kudos to Blacks for not giving up even the scoreline was beyond their grasp. They pressured City to the final minute of the game and without Safiuddin, I guess the game could have ended in a draw. Safiuddin was excellent today and he deserved the man of the match. Indra and Fred plus the full backs kept the opponents today at bay and minimize their creating option. Miah's goal was the highlight for the day as that was a difficult skill to produce as he was leaning backwards to power his header goalwards. Its really a tale of first and second half as you can see players transform and wanting to win badly. I salute all the players today for the win and will be looking forward to the match agianst FC92."
