FLOORBALL

POL-ITE Games 2007
Temasek Polytechnic vs Combined ITE (Men)
Wednesday, 24 October 2007 at Republic PolytechnicStory by Red Sports reader Muhammad Hannan.

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) floorball team beat Temasek Polytechnic (TP) 3-2 last night to finish fourth in the six-team league.

Decked in their traditional red, Temasek Polytechnic took control of the game early with former captain and national player Joshua Brown hitting his shot just wide of the goal in the 7th minute.

Their fortunes however turned with ITE bearing down on the Temasek goal time and time again. ITE’s constant pressure was duly rewarded when a defender found an unmarked teammate (#38) whose first time shot from halfway went in, leaving Temasek's keeper with no chance.

TP’s Joshua Brown, a constant threat to ITE, gave gifted teammate and forward Din with a good chance on goal when he dispossessed an ITE defender but only to see the shot blocked brilliantly from a metre out. It was TP’s best chance on goal in Period 1 and it ended with ITE leading by a goal.

Period 2 started with ITE controlling the proceedings. For much of period 2, ITE kept possession well and looked increasingly threatening with every attack on Temasek's goal. ITE player, Hadi, controlled the defence well by not allowing Temasek many chances for shots on goal.

A quick counter-attack from ITE resulted in a goal for #32 in the 5th minute of Period 2 with an assist from #26. ITE hence extended their lead further to 2-0.

Temasek's reliance on Joshua Brown was ever increasing as he dictated play well but was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet on several occasions with good saves by the ITE keeper #18, who was donning a striking pink jersey.

Period 3 started the same way Period 2 ended with ITE controlling much of the game and in the lead 2-0. Scoring as early as the 2nd minute was ITE captain #26 whose hard shot from halfway easily beat the keeper for a 3-0 lead. Temasek’s keeper could not be blamed as he was blocked by many players. ITE then had their keeper to thank in the 4th minute when a helmet-save denied Temasek a goal.

Temasek's first goal came from #26, whose shot just barely beat the keeper in the 7th minute, keeping hopes of a win alive. Adding insult to injury, ITE's #30 was given a 2-minute penalty for hard slashing. Despite the set-back, ITE was quick to attack and two good saves from the Temasek keeper kept the score unchanged. The Temasek players were frustrated again when a shot from Joshua Brown hit the top post after good work down the left flank by teammate Cedric.

Coach Dennis of Temasek called for a timeout in the 13th minute in a final attempt to rally his team to score three goals with 2 minutes left. The coach must have said some inspiring words as Joshua Brown got himself on the scoreboard finally with a fine solo run to make it 2-3. But it was a case of too little too late for the former POL-ITE Bronze medallists Temasek Polytechnic as ITE held on to win 3-2.