Adrian Lok-ed Out

KDU vs P.S.C. Wednesday

Adrian
Manee - Viet - Chong - Prashant
Dowlet - Derek - Norman - Samson
Dayrion
Chern

It wasn't going to be great when only 8 KDU players showed up for the match and I had to abandon my own orange shirt for the blue of the KDU FC. I also had so ask two of the opposition players to swap shirts too and we found ourselves with the experienced right hand side of Manee and Dowlet. This experience also spread throughout the rest of the team with Chong coming for a rare game pairing Viet in central defence, Derek, Samson and the energetic German in front of them with possibly the only weaknesses being the small Chern and slight Dayrion up front.

KDU College got straight into PSC from the kick off and the midfield dominated the orange shirts with Norman harassing everyone and Derek sticking close to their playmaker Hilme. Unfortunately they found it difficult to link up with the strikers and whilst Dowlet continued to push the ball for Chern to run onto, the young striker didn't have the pace or power to reach or shield the ball. It turned out that long shots from outside the penalty area were the order of the day and Derek managed to hit a rasping one from the edge of the box to warm the keeper's hands. The best chance of the half actually fell to Dayrion who should have, at least, his diverted a great cross from Samson goalbound.

However this was strictly not true. PSC had the best chance of the first half. Actually the best three chances. And they were all one on ones!

Whilst Manee was providing experience (and a body) at right back, he wasn't pushing up and this proved to be a problem when his centre halves were! This meant that Ming and Barat were constantly played onside. When Adrian saved from Ming's first chance, we were relieved. Then the even more experienced Nara broke through and Adrian smothered his shot. Barat then ran through our 'offside trap' - which was only trapping ourselves! - and we thought he must score but Adrian again laughed in the face of adversity by managing to block his effort. PSC thought they had taken the lead when Barat managed to get the ball past Adrian - only to see his shot bounce off the crossbar and Adrian pouncing on the loose ball. It was safe to say who our man of the match was!

I was mighty relieved to go into the break at half time goalless! I was disappointed with our strikers and our defence but couldn't make any chances and decided that losing my temper would be counterproductive.

However it was no surprise when PSC took the lead early in the 2nd half. A corner from the left, a mistimed jump from Derek and Drew did with his head what none of his strikers could do in the first half with their feet - put the ball into the back of the net from 6 yards out. However Derek was determined to make up for his mistake and pounced on Drew after a short goal kick to sidefoot the ball past the keeper and inside the near post. Dowlet made it even more better with a second goal soon after and then great interplay between all the midfielders put Norman on the scoresheet. Samson put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal which PSC really didn't like the taste of - they were soon bickering amongst themselves.

But PSC managed to channel that energy towards the KDU goal (which now had a weaker Derek instead of Viet who was desperate to play in midfield) and Adrian had already made another one on one save before Hilme unleashed a rocket from the edge of the box. Whilst Adrian slightly misjudged that one, he was unlucky with Ming's cross shot - the keeper got a hand to the ball but only managed to divert it onto the inside of the post!

KDU managed to hang onto the lead when perhaps they should have seen the match through more comfortably after leading by a 3 goal deficit. But arguably PSC could have been 3 goals up in the first half if it wasn't for the heroics of our goalkeeper - Adrian Lok.

KDU 4 VS 3 PSC Wednesday

You Never Know What You've Got Til It's Gone

KDU College vs PSC Tuesday

Adrian
Prashant - Ryan - Derek - Fajar
Kumar
Dayrion - Norman - Jimmy - Vincent
Raouf

(played on Tuesday 1st Sept)

It was a bit of a shock to see so many players come - especially some guys who I've not seen since the ICG such as Gim Wei and Kumar! Sadly though we lacked Muneer who has always been at the heart of the impressive KDU performances at PSC and it showed. With Ryan looking out of shape and unable to keep a hold of Alan it meant a very early first half change with Fajar coming inside and Ryan swapping to full back - but that was not until we were 2 goals down!

Kumar trips Alan as a posse of blue shirts gather around him inside the penalty area.

We had started off reasonably well but after Adrian just failed to push out the spot kick, it was always going to be difficult. I always feel you have to keep PSC down to as few goals as possible if you want a positive result because they give so few chances away at the other end.

Alan makes the near post run at the corner but it's Ah Tong at the far post who scores by running to the middle - which makes me ask "what was his marker doing?"

Now we were 2 goals down but strangely we managed to get back into the game as we managed to gather enough energy to muster some long range shots on the PSC goal. A lot of play went through Norman and he showed tremendous spirit to push on and pressure the defence - but this meant Jimmy was marginalised in the first 35 minutes.

But the defence let the team down again. Adrian has already made some great stops before Derek (who needed to be a lot tighter and more aggressive) capped a bad half by losing possession with a backheel to Kumar... who wasn't there - and PSC took advantage to make it 3. Fajar had impressed in central defence against the Bosnian but Alan had the last laugh after a wonderful step over allowed him inside and he neatly put the ball past Adrian in goal.

Derek wonders why he has 2 Hoongs on his paper...

Tony
Prashant - Adrian - Drew - Karthee
Viet
Gim Wei - Jimmy - Samson
Hoong - Jay

It was a completely new team for the 2nd half as he gave 10 new players and 1 old Jimmy a chance to redeem the KDU name. The half got off to a tricky start for Viet and Jay as they were told to change glasses and Hoong told to wear a proper navy blue shirt!

However PSC were a lot quieter in the 2nd half although Adrian gave them a helping hand with a sliding tackle in the penalty area without touching the ball. The penalty taker also took everyone by surprise with a very quick kick once the whistle went - Tony hadn't even had time to set himself!

But the spirit of KDU strode on (without Viet as he looked to adapt after 10 minutes of playing with no glasses!) despite the 5 goal deficit and it was encapsulated in a wonderful strike by Jimmy from all of 30 yards! His rocket of a shot into the top right hand corner would have been something Steven Gerrard would have been proud of!! Samson also showed off a nice piece of dainty footwork on the right side of the penalty area to set up Hoong for KDU's second goal of the match.

The guys applaud Jimmy's wonder strike.

We needed to be more aggressive, stronger and tighter in our next match vs the Tuesday branch of Penang Sports Club. Alternatively we could just have the Omani brick in our defensive wall...

KDU College 2 vs 5 PSC Tuesday