Date: 04/06/06
Time: 9am
Location: East View Secondary School
Opponent: Dunman All Stars FC

Score: Dunman All Stars FC 5-3 Hornet FC

Finally came the day when the AFL League start. We were all looking forward for this day to come. Hornet FC played against Dunman All Stars FC. It was a pity for the Hornets who lost 5-3 to Dunman though they had controlled most of the game.

Hornet took the lead at 2 minutes after the start of the game, when Yuzrizal’s shot from outside the penalty box went into the right hand corner. In the 7th minute, Amin’s free kick missed the goal narrowly. Another opportunity was wasted 10 mintues later, when Weiqiang took a shot from outside the penalty box tat just missed the goal’s frame. 20 minutes into the game, Boon Chen saved a free kick from Dunman but from the resulting corner, No. 26 of Duman FC scored the equaliser after Amin was foul in the box. Hornets upped their attacked but to their dismay, 4 chances were either missed or save by Dunman’s keeper in the space of 8 minutes. Dunman had difficulties dealing with the attacks and in their desperate attempt to steal the ball, 3 Dunman players collided straight into Kenny, one tackling from his left, the other from the right and the last pulling him down from behind. Kenny was taken out of the match when his ankle was “accidentally” stepped on in the attempt. In a fit of anger, Kenny kicked the ball away and received a yellow card for unsportsmanship. A counter attack by Dunman took them into a 2-1 lead at the 37th minute into half-time.

The Hornets came out of half-time going all out to get the equalizer. In the 54th minute, Weiqiang’s bicycle kick sent the ball towards the top right hand corner of the goal, but the goalkeeper manage to turn the ball out beautifully. In the 57th minute, Weiqiang squared the ball to Ruiqiang whom dribbled it past the defense line and attempted to score, but the ball was saved by the goalkeepr. A penalty was awarded to the Hornets when our opponent deliberately tripped Amin over in the box. Ruiqiang took the penalty despite his injury from earlier during the match, to their dismay the goalkeeper saved it. A wrong decision made resulting in a penalty wasted.

In the next minute, Weiqiang met a brilliant upfield pass by Amin and he sent a looping header straight into the goal. Hornet pushed forward to get a lead and in the 68th minute, Weiqiang flashed a shoot narrowly past the goalpost. Boon Chen conceded a penalty, which sent Hornet down to 3-2. An opportunity to level the score was lost when SC was stopped by the sound of the whistle, apparently the opponent’s defender tripped over himself in an attempt to defend a header that was crossed in. To make things worse, an intended cross by Dunman in the 72nd minute ended into the goal instead. All was not lost as at the 74th minute, Weiqiang yet again found the goal when he volleyed Amin’s freekick into the net. Temper brewed as Mervin received a yellow card for pushing Dunman’s right winger. Hornet’s hope of their 1st win was killed when Dunman’s striker stopped Boon Chen’s clearance. The lad sent the ball back into the goal which concluded Dunman’s win.

After match thoughts: It was hard luck for the Hornets with so many chances missed, but it also helped leverage the teamwork between the players further. The players would need to learn to control their temper in facing unhand pressures from the opposition.