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!!!