Game 4: Parkview Penguins vs Ballistiers

Score: 3-1

Scorers: Owain (2), David

Match report by: Gerald

Once again, the Penguins lined up against the Ballistiers, the team with whom they had played their inaugural match, which ended in a respectable 2-2 draw. By now the Penguins had had the chance to play another 2 matches and further gel as a team. The organization and determination of the dogged defenders, the cohesiveness and incisive passing of the midfield enforcers, and the penetrative and undoubtedly magical skills of the strikeforce meant that the Penguins were in good shape to take on the Ballistiers. It had all the makings of a classic re-match of two opposing football giants seeking to claim supremacy over the other.

The match started off at a normal pace, with both sides looking to find their feet, passing and probing patiently. Both sides looked evenly matched at first but to the keen observer the pendulum was slowly but surely swinging in favor of the Penguins. The defence was superbly marshalled by Maxim and Jaspall, who were ably supported by Robert Peter's tireless running and shielding of the defence. The opposition simply could not find a way through, and this gave towering midfielder Kenneth Tang, often allying natural composure and good control with the ball at his feet, opportunities to send searing passes down the flanks for the intrepid wingers Owain Palmer and Glenn Wray to chase down. Owain Palmer in particular was superb as he opened his account with what some might call an "impossible goal". From the tightest of angles he managed to guide the ball with almost laser-like precision as it eluded both the opposition keeper and the far post, giving the Penguins a precious 1-0 lead to take into halftime.

The second half started at a more frenetic pace, with the Ballistiers clearly keen to make amends for the first half. They upped the pace, passing faster, chasing the ball as if their lives depended on it, and gave the Penguins little time and space to to spray the ball around. Their keeper was in particularly fine form as he barked orders at his teammates throughout the match, even seeing fit to scream instructions at them on how to take attacking free kicks. Fortunately for the Penguins, they were able to repel attack after attack, and in an almost Internazionale-esque moment, launched a swift counter attack that led to a cross from the right which David instinctively volleyed into the net. No chance for the keeper! Shades of Fandi Ahmad there, but the Penguins would have taken an own goal at this point as it deflated the spirits of the valiant Ballistiers, although not their keeper who continued to rant at his teammates incessantly.

All that ranting proved to be not in vain as the Ballistiers managed to score a goal through sheer luck and a momentary lapse in the defence. That could have signaled the start of a revival for the Ballistiers, leaving the Penguins staring another 2-2 draw in the face, but this team has become so much more than the sum of its parts. The Penguins calmly weathered the storm and patiently waited for a breakaway, and duly received their reward in the last 20 minutes. Once again the stage belonged to awesome Owain. Playing like a man possessed, he took control of the ball at the halfway line and made a dangerous run directly at the defence, beating several defenders, before elegantly slotting the ball into the back of the net! What a fantastic goal!! 3-1 to the Penguins!!!

Credit to the Ballistiers, they never hung their heads and continued running and pressing, and in the closing minutes even looked like they might have been slightly hard done by with a penalty appeal that the referee refused to give. In fairness the ball was crossed from the byline across the face of goal, and from the video reply it looks like the ball may have very slightly grazed across the rightback's arm on its way out, but it would have been a very, very soft penalty to give, and would not have been fair justification for what was a consummate performance by the Penguins.

A very assured performance punctuated by 3 moments of sheer brilliance that led to 3 beautiful goals. The Penguins are gaining steam and can only get better and better. Bring it on!!!

Game 3: Parkview Penguins vs Essex Lasallians

Score: Penguins 4-3 Essex Lasallians

Goals: Kenneth (1), Owain (1), Glenn (1), Roger (1)

Match report by: Glenn

The Penguins were much-depleted for the hotly anticipated clash against Essex Lasallians, also known as our director's husband’s team. The Deepavali holiday laid waste to numerous key Penguins, including the likes of Robert, David and Jay. The critics had already sharpened their pens in expectation of a Penguins collapse against an accomplished and experienced outfit, but they had underestimated the spirit of the Penguins team. Captain Ben Boo simply shrugged off the losses in personnel, dusted off his tactics board and created a robust, if initially surprising, 5-3-2 formation. The Penguins took to the field both confident and determined, but few could have foreseen the events that were to follow.

Penguins are usually notable for their casual waddling but not these formidable Penguins, who positively roared out of the blocks from the first whistle. Several chances went begging in the early stages as we poured forward with merry abandon. Our enterprising play got the goal we deserved from midfield-lynchpin, Kenneth, who rose highest from a corner to power home a bullet header. The lead was doubled soon after, with Owain prodding home at the second attempt at close range. Our makeshift defence held together smoothly, efficiently snuffing out any threats from the opposition. Jonathan began to resemble a young Tony Adams as the game wore on, marshalling his troops with calm authority. Incredibly, as half-time approached things got even better for us as the opposing keeper, under immense pressure from the indefatigable Roger, spooned a miskicked clearance to just outside the corner of the box where an onrushing Glenn placed a first-time volley over the keeper’s head. The whistle for half-time soon followed, with the Penguins in dreamland.

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and so it transpired in the second-half. The opposition upped their game and made it 3-1 with a debatable penalty soon after the restart, prompting doubts to seep into the minds of our players. Whilst our play in the first half was akin to Messi, in the second, it started to become simply, well,  messy. We still managed to play some good football, but tired legs and minds combined to see concentration levels drop. Positioning went awry and confidence began to drop as passes went astray and chances went begging. It wasn’t long before it became 3-2, with the opposition really raining down on us. The last 15mins saw a backs-to-the-wall type battle not seen since the Alamo, but our proud defence was finally pierced with a soul-crushing equalizer 10mins from time. 3-3 and there looked like being only one winner… But no! Cometh the hour and cometh the man. A rare counter-attack in the last minute saw the ball swept from defence to midfield in the blink of an eye – soon Darryl was receiving a pass inside the box with the cry ‘Shoot!’ resounding from the players. Time froze as Darryl pulled back his leg to deliver the strike, defenders desperately lunged at his feet, hearts raced. Amid the mayhem, only Darryl kept his cool, casually sliding the ball to his right to an unmarked Roger who found the corner of the net with an expert toe-poke. 4-3 Penguins!!

So a truly sensational game ended in a deserved 4-3 victory. Again, the incredible spirit and determination of the Penguins shone through, as did some marvelous football. Eyebrows may have been raised as  we took to the field but by the end, the only things raised were the arms of the victorious Penguins.

Game 2: Penguins vs ‘Unknowns’

Score: Penguins 2-5 Unknowns

Goals: Glenn, Darryl

Match report by: Glenn

The final scoreline may have read as a 5-2 defeat, but I don’t think this is a fair reflection on the game. We played really well in parts, especially the first 20mins where we had about 3 or 4 really good chances. Our shape was great and we played some good short passing stuff. Our start got its due reward when Glenn waltzed through their defence and slotted calmly past the keeper to put us 1-0 up. A counter-attack and penalty equalizer for them was a bitter blow, just when we were controlling the game, and their second right at the end of the first half knocked the stuffing out of us somewhat.

Obviously, it got even tougher in the second half with both Jonathan and Owain having to leave early, and Maxim being forced off with an ankle injury. We still battled bravely though (as epitomized by Skipper Ben’s yellow card) and got what we deserved with Darryl’s 30 yard screamer early in the half to draw things level. Had luck gone our way we could have gone on to grab the win but, unfortunately, the goalframe conspired to deny us on several occasions, as did the opposition goalie when clawing out another 35 yard free-kick from Darryl. Ultimately, though, they proved more clinical in the final third, adding 3 more unanswered goals as the game drew to a close.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that the opposition seemed a really strong young and mobile side, so for us to give them such a battle in only our second game was admirable.