Football Crazy v Central Park
29/05/05

Things wasn't looking well for the Sharks on their return fixture with Football Crazy when they were forced to miss 4 key players, missing due to work commitments and suspensions and had only 2 reserves with the manager included. Feeling another defeat is on the cards, the opponents however had another surprise when they literally provided the Sharks manager with an early birthday present which falls on 31 May when they too had problems fielding a full team, with only 9 players for the game.

The Sharks however were shell-shocked when the opponents took the lead against the run of play in the first-half via a free-kick which totally left Salihin flat-footed and stand-in keeper Daniel stumped. That was the cue for the Sharks not to take the 9 man team lightly. Time after time, the Sharks anxiety to level the game were met with disappointment when they were unable to break the opponent high defence line. Chances were created but were not finished until Sharks vice-captain Salihin at one point ran a full 30 metres to goal only to be checked unfairly at the edge of the area which Jeremy failed to capitalise from the resulting free-kick which flew off-target. That went on for the duration of the first-half and it meant they go to the break trailing by a goal. Expecting a much defensive formation from the opponent defending a slim lead, Sharks started the second-half with renewed vigor and kept its pressure on their counterpart by attacking in numbers. Sharks leveler came shortly after good work from Michael provided Heng Li with a simple tap-in. The latter returned the favor for Michael to give Sharks their much awaited lead. A goal each later by Zhenxiong whose cross or should we say 'shot' flew into goal from the right flank and Jiawen ensured that the Sharks ended their worse run of 5 defeats since their inception.

The manager commented after the game, 'Full marks to the opponents who gave their best despite playing with 9 man for the game. We had our problems too for the game and considering the poor run of games we had recently, the win albeit against 9 man will always be grabbed with open arms by any team, the Sharks included.'