hat trick

Match: RJ Soccer Team vs RJ Mix-n-match (M&M) J1 side (10aside v 10) Venue: school field line up: M&M - Mark (Kaixiang), Joseph, Weifan, Libin, Wenjuin, Paul, Desmond, Boxian, (Mingyong), Ruik, Fairuz score: Soccer Team 5 or 6 - 3 M&M scorers: Chang Wen (x2), Kin Yip, Chun Yat, Geoffrey + 1 more fella.....& Fairuz (x3) Actually, there was supposed to be more people coming, but sadly enough, ppl turned down a real chance to play soccer for...sleep...then when there is so little time after school, they beg to play soccer. Oh well, I'm just grateful for those who turned up today, the non-soccer boys, thank you Ruik, Mingyong, Desmond, Paul and Boxian... Haha, u saved my butt. Clearly we were dominated. It's like around 2 months since i last kick about on the field. And to top that up, its Ramadhan, so i was fasting. So the plan was damage control right from the start. Oh well, since when do I stick to plan? So the Soccer Team were the ones who made the early passes, without any real threat. Soo Tet was always making cunning runs down the right, but i think he needs more support and when a support is there, he should try to release the ball earlier. Zhihao was always commanding in midfield, winning most of the balls, but people around him need to make runs for him to pass to. Chang wen was all alone up front, perhaps plays better with a strike partner, but with all the harrowing, he can perhaps look to layoff to midfielders who surely pack a punch in their shots. Geoffrey penetrates from the left, but I think he just needs a bit of work with the final ball and should not be too afraid to try potshots from the edge of the box. But i think overall, they should not focus on getting high crosses into the box, other JCs definitely have taller defenders. So I think they should look for final balls that can split defences open, for that, they need a strong and speedy striker, maybe in the form of Adzfar, who clearly looks jaded at right back. Pls try him again up front, u really must realise how much pace troubles defences. The full backs made little attacking inroads today, because they were pinned back by our long balls. They surely possess good crosses, so open up space for them to whip in a delicious cross. Chun Yat is strong in midfield, i hear he's playing striker too, he has a sure touch, a good finisher and strong physique too. So clearly a good target man upfront. Kin Yip looks more confident with high balls nowadays, but once u get the ball looping over his head, he needs support from fellow defenders to cut out the long diagonal balls, especially if u have a pacy striker. Enough evaluation, let's talk about the game. Started off alright, our number one instruction was to just apply pressure on the man with the ball. Simply just don't give them space to manouvre. I think they were not used to having so little time on the ball, I think it led to our first goal. An unsure touch from their right hand channel back towards the goalie fell short, so with both last man and keeper stranded in no man's land, i could just toe-poked it into the back of the net. [shoot i can't remember who scored first. was it ur side?] Anyway, with the score tied at 1-1 soon after, a good run down the left by Ruik caught their defence on the back pedal. They failed to clear the diagonal pass and I just placed the ball as far away from Kaixiang as possible, hitting kinyip on the way to goal. But within seconds, they got a series of corners, very well taken by Sootet. This time, Chang wen rose head and shoulders above the rest to plant a firm header to the top left hand corner, a magnificent header. 2-2 at halftime. Clearly they were fired up right after the break, because our pressure play and hitting them on the break really frustrated them. They played better now, with 'triangles' and what not coming into play. Soo Tet again enjoyed freedom on the right with the loose marking from Libin (does he know what's a foul throw?!?!?). A good corner to the middle of the box found Kin Yip whose downward header bounced into the crowded pack and into the goal. It was quite end to end stuff, as our players tire and theirs got hungrier. Still, some confusion at the back saw a floated ball bouncing over Kin Yip for me to blast it past Mark for my hat-trick (my first ever!). Could have passed it to Ruik but was singleminded. Hehe. Then after that, we really became tired. I swithched with Ruik for a while, clearly im not fit enought to play midfield. Desmond then had a stinging shot whacking against the crossbar, it would be a beauty had it gone in. After that, Chang Wen got his second I think, the only goal to have come from outside the box. A long range effort that sailed into the top left hand corner. Chun Yat then added another one from the right edge of the six yard box to seal our misery. I think it ended 5-3 or 6-3 in their favour. Oh well...good game still. Things I need work on: 1) Left Foot Cross: to be able to find a man in the box with an inswinger, or to cut the right back at the byline and deliver a cutback. 2) Headers: to win aerial balls against defenders. to outjump players, to direct headers towards teammate. 3) Beating players: to master more skills to beat players one on one, better ball control, change of pace.