Story and pictures by Marvin Lowe

The Saints are devastated at the final whistle. (Photo 1 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Delta Sports Complex, Wednesday, August 6, 2008 – In yet another exciting finish to the C Division Hockey Championship, Seng Kang Secondary pipped hot favourites St. Andrew’s Secondary 1-0 claim the title. A missed penalty and a last-minute save stood out in this exciting encounter between the two teams.

Both teams started the game evenly matched with the attack swinging from end to end. Both set of plaers played at a fast paced tempo with slick passing in between. The Saints were awarded the first short corner but their first attack came to naught. The tackling by the two teams was pretty rough with plenty of jostling and shoving for the ball. It wasn’t long before the rough play caught the attention of the referees.

Seng Kang played a more physical game, getting into their opponent’s face at times. A rough tackle saw a Seng Kang player being shown the first green card. Shortly after that incident, another foul was committed right in their penalty area. Without hesitation, the referee pointed to the spot. Saint’s captain, Cornelius, walked towards the ball with much confidence and flicked the ball hard towards goal. To his and the rest of the Saint’s horror, the ball sailed high and wide of the goal. Seng Kang were let off for their ill-discipline and the Saints were soon to rue this missed chance.

With the very next attack, the Seng Kang team overwhelmed the Saint’s defense in their penalty area. With sticks flying everywhere, the ball was deflected airborne. SengKang’s forward, Mhd Hatta, seized the opportunity and hammered the ball mid-air into goal, scoring against the run of play. It was a spectacular goal that stunned both the Saints supporters and players as well.

The Saints became ever more determined to find the equalizer and they came into the second half with renewed focus. They laid siege to the Seng Kang goal area, but could not find ways to penetrate the defensive wall, finding their movements stifled and their flow of play broken up.

With less than 5 minutes to play, the Saints were awarded a short corner. However, the Seng Kang defenders managed to charge down the attack and clear the ball. The Saints kept up their pressure and managed to win one more short corner just as the referee blew for time. With this being the final play of the game, the Saints threw all ten players up to the edge of the D.

They worked the ball well, faking out the Seng Kang defense by stroking the ball back to the player who took the short corner. With only the Seng Kang goalie in his way, he hit a powerful shot towards the bottom corner of the goal but the Seng Kang goalie dived to make a spectacular save. With that save, the final whistle blew and all the Saints players crumbled in disbelief while the Seng Kang players erupted in jubilation.

Sengkang’s Coach, Mr Mhd Ali was over the moon with the result and he acknowledges that the match was a close fight. ” Credit must be given to the Saint Andrew’s team for fighting so hard. We just took our chances better than them.”

When asked about their secret for success, he revealed that most of his players played together at Punggol Primary School. They have established a feeder system whereby the hockey players are recruited into Seng Kang.

“We are able to lay a solid foundation with the players when they are young and allow them to develop their chemistry.”

A Saints player closes down a Seng Kang Player. (Photo 2 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Cornelius of the Saints prepares to take a hit. (Photo 3 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

The referee calls the foul and awards the penalty. (Photo 4 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

The Seng Kang goalkeeper dives at full stretch as the penalty is missed. (Photo 5 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Seng Kang celebrate their goal. (Photo 6 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Saints player hits the ball hard towards the goal area. (Photo 7 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Saints player tries to deliver a pass into the goal area. (Photo 8 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Saints player tries to send a cross from the wings. (Photo 9 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

The Seng Kang defenders close down a Saints forward and prevent a shot at goal. (Photo 10 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Seng Kang player puts his stick forward to block the a Saints player. (Photo 11 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Seng Kang player stretches with his stick to make an interception. (Photo 12 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Saint and a Seng Kang player jostle for position down the wing. (Photo 13 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

The Seng Kang player falls hard to the ground as the a Saints player bulldozes his way down the flank. (Photo 14 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Saints player shows his frustration at being fouled. (Photo 15 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Saints player tries to block the Sengkang player from making a reverse hit. (Photo 16 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Sengkang player jumps as Cornelius of the Saints makes a big hit towards goal. (Photo 17 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Sengkang players in disbelief that they have won. (Photo 18 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

A Saint is overwhelmed by the defeat. (Photo 19 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

N.B. If you recognise the players, feel free to put their names in the comments section and we’ll update the captions.