National JC defeat Innova JC 5-2 in A Division Boys floorball

By REDintern Chin Chi Hua.

Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall, Thursday, May 7, 2009 – National Junior College did not give Innova JC an easy time as they beat the latter 5-2 in an A Division Boys Floorball Championship group preliminaries.

The beginning of the first period was relatively uneventful, as several crisp shots were stopped by alert defenders and the goal keeper of both teams. As the first period drew by with just 5 minutes left, Jeggrey Kam (NJC #34) gave a brilliant pass to Tan Jun Xiong (NJC #33), who took a shot to score the first goal of the match.

Wang Sheng Ming (IJC #11) was unfortunately sent to the sin bin for incorrect distance while defending the NJC players. With one man down, NJC took this opportunity to attack ferociously. Their efforts were not in vain as a pass from Darius Sie (NJC #28) to Jun Xiong (NJC #33) gave NJC a greater lead as Jun Xing scored.

IJC refused to be beaten by that and continued fighting on. Sheng Ming came back into the game and managed to score just four seconds after Jun Xiong’s goal. The shot into the goal was so quick and sudden that the NJC goalkeeper could not react in time.

The exciting first period ended with a score of 2-1, in favour of NJC.

The second period saw IJC raving to close the lead. Haja Reethwan (IJC #14) gave a drag shot into the goalpost but it was saved by the NJC goalkeeper’s legs. Another shot from Melvin Lim (IJC #8), from the right corner went past the NJC defenders but not their goalkeeper.
Another attempt by Sai Swam Han (IJC #9) proved to be futile as NJC defenders refused to concede any goals carelessly.

IJC attackers’ morale was still high and continued to charge at the goalpost, but the referee had to stop the game momentarily due to extreme slashing, which actually caused the shoe of Tan Juan Hong (NJC #16) to fall off twice.

He had to retreat to the side to wear his shoe, but shortly after he got back, Juan Hong helped his team by attempting a shot into the goalpost, only to see it blocked by A. Raj Kumar (IJC #16), who fell in front of the goalpost.

The period was brought to greater heights as Shaun Tan (NJC #5) took a volley into the goalpost. It was well executed but perhaps too forceful and the ball went over the goalpost. He was unfazed by that and managed to regain possession.

The next shot into the goal by Shaun was spot-on, as the ball slipped into the corner of the goalpost without the IJC keeper realising. Viola, it was 3-1 to NJC!

Just 40 seconds into the third period, Ng Jun Long (NJC #32) scored a goal from the left corner, the exact same spot where Wang Sheng Ming (IJC #11) and Muhd Asyraf (IJC #7) both had great attempts at the goal. Still eager to bridge the lead further, Liew Chee Keong (NJC #22), Ching Soon Kiang (NJC #19) and Siow Wei Jie (NJC #12) did a 3-men formation, with Chee Keong and Wei Jie as distractions while Soon Kiang taking this opportunity to aim at goal.

The alert IJC keeper foiled their plans by catching the ball with both hands before anything could happen. A further boost to NJC’s morale came with five minutes of game time left as Ng Jun Long (NJC #32) scored the fifth goal for NJC.

A time-out was called by the IJC coach, probably to consolidate the team and re-formulate their strategies. NJC also had a change of the goalkeeper, from Jeffrey Mok (NJC #1) to Zhong Qiansheng (NJC #77).

With just 1:34 seconds remaining, Muhd Asyraf (IJC #7) passed the ball to Wang Sheng Ming (IJC #11) for him to score a second goal. Though it could not do much to change the outcome of the game, it was a good effort as they never let up right till the very end.

As the final whistle sounded, NJC celebrated their victory as they won with a final score of 5-2.