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Five games, five defeats as Central Park miserable run of results continues, this time round; their return leg against Eastern Vale as they went down 1-4 this time round. Eastern Vale got in front early in the game and got into the break with a comfortable 2 goals lead and they increased their lead to a commanding 4-0 before Alex pulled a goal back from the spot, picking himself up and taking the penalty after being brought down in the box. The defeat left the Sharks in a precarious 6th position and they are left with 7 more games to save their season.
Sharks were looking to turn their season in their return leg against Eastern Vale and with the personnel at their disposal for the game, the manager were confident that this was the game that would turn the corner. No less than six changes were made from the last game with the likes of Zhuoneng, Steven and Chris starting on the bench while the team welcomes back Betrand and Harold while in goal, Sharks completed the transfer of Mizan for the season. The team started confidently but against the run of play, the opposition took the lead after the defense failed to clear their lines and allowed Eastern Vale to sneak a goal at the far post. That shook the team and the shambolic defending continues shortly afterwards when they presented the opposition midfielder all the time in the world to pick his spot from outside the box with Mizan rooted to his spot. 2-0 and Sharks were rocked. A switch for Anuar for Michael somehow changed the shape of the game as Sharks looked more compact in the middle of the park and began to put Eastern Vale on the backfoot.
Harold came close to pull a goal back but despite a ferocious effort, it manage to only hit the side-netting. Alex was next who came close when he latched on a weighted pass behind the defense and though he managed to round the custodian, his shot missed the target. Betrand came closest when he latched on a low cross but somehow his composure were found wanting as he could only skive the shot high. Despite a strong finish in the first half, Sharks had a mountain to climb as they go into the break with a 2 goal deficit.
The second half started with only a couple of change as the manager looked for continuity as they looked for the elusive goal to narrow the deficit. Despite starting as strong as they have finished, yet again shambolic defending allowed the oppsition to increase their lead and shortly afterwards, they added their fourth. A change of personnel in defense was in order as Anuar came back on and the change seemed to settle the defense nerves as they put the opposiiton on the backfoot. Alex got the break-thru when he was brought down in the box and he picked himself up to narrow the deficit.
The goal seemed to rejuvenate Sharks as they make a couple of forays upfront thought Eastern Vale defense stood firm. Aaron came closest to add Sharks second though he was denied by the crossbar. That was the last and closest Sharks came into goal though Jaleel could have added another and despite ruthlessly brought down in the box with a high tackle, the referee stood firm and he blew for the final whistle shortly afterwards.
The clearly bewildered manager commented, 'We had a strong turnout on paper today but our defending was shambolic. We kept making the same mistake week in week out and got punished.'
He added, 'This season we manage to plug in certain key positions with new recruits but after the last two games, it seemed that we need to inject new blood in defense before we go down a downward freefall spiral as we look to save our season.
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