NORTHUMBERLAND KNIGHTS

16 May 2009

Knights vs Police @ Cantonment Close

Line up for the match

1. Banks (GK)
2. Daniel (RB) -- sub Iskandar
3. Mazelan (LB)
4. Adnan (DC) -- sub Azmi
5. Ju (DC)
6. Haikal (MC) -- Sub Rashid
7. Reza (MC) -- Sub Sean
8. Ahmat (AMC) -- Sub Anuar
9. Aleem (AMC)
10. Jesse (ST) -- Sub Ariff
11. Remy (ST) -- Sub Sahrin

Match Review -- Kickoff 3pm

The conditions had been perfect for a good game. Cool weather, players for once turning up earlier than the opponents and the referee, returning players like the King surprising everyone and extra supplies of 100 Plus drinks for everyone on top of the mineral water kindly sponsored by Sahrin.
However, one look at the pitch, and we knew we could face problems. It was too wide as it was too long, and compared to our young opponents, we knew that we could not last the distance. But no matter, the Knights started off the game well, with a host of chances falling the way of our front men, Jesse, Ahmat, Remy and Aleem. Unfortunately, all the chances went bagging, as either the shots were too high, or straight to the keeper. The opponents were having trouble breaking through the the Knights defence, as our central midfielders and the makeshift defence stood firm. (As the makeshift defence had been making its appearance every single game, maybe its time to stop calling them that?)
On 20 mins, another great Knights move resulted in a through ball played by Ahmat to Aleem, and he cooly rounded the keeper to score our opening goal. A couple of minutes later, a tired Jesse had to be substituted, and on came Ariff who sprinted halfway across the pitch, and with his first touch of the ball, neatly tucked Aleem’s excellent ball into the corner of the net, with the keeper well beaten. 2-0 to the Knights, and it seems like the game was under the Knight’s control.
However, complacency soon struck, with passes going astray again, and shots taken when team-mates were better placed, Knights begin to play with over-confidence. Save for one shot that hit the bar from Alim, the Knights were no closer to sealing off the game. As we began to tire, our youthful opponents played their trump cards. On came their plethora of young subs, they began spraying passes that resulted in their players outsprinting our tired Knights, and off one such break, they pulled a goal back, as our right back and last man was outran by the striker. Just before half time, a loose ball in midfield resulted in the opponents thumping the ball into our half, and amid confusion among the backline, they equalised.
Second half saw changes to the Knights, as the defence was re-shuffled to refresh tired players. However, the half started badly for the Knights as the opponents capitalised on a slip by our guest right back to score. 3-2 to opponents. Soon, it was 4-2, a penalty decision going against us as the opponents went on a run that looked suspiciously offside. Azmi, King Rashid, Sean and Sahrin was brought in to shore a leaky defence, and we did not concede after that. Knights slowly regained a hold back on the game, and we started getting corners and free kicks as opponents started to lose their heads. Off one such corner, Annuar scored via a header, 4-3. Although the Knights tried valiantly to look for an equaliser, it never came.
Another defeat, but good all round efforts from the Knights. Everybody played their part and enjoyed a good day out and King Rashid made his long-awaited return. One thing is for certain though, the next person who mentions a makeshift defence, will be shot.

Reported by: Sir Evil (guest columnist)
Final score : Knights 3 Police 4
Knights scorer: Aleem, Ariff & Anuar
Knights Man Of The Match : Aleem