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Central Park harrowing journey continues in Division 3 after going down for their 3rd consecutive defeat in the division against fellow rivals Barclays Capital at Singapore Sports School on Sunday despite taking the lead twice in the game to eventually go down 2-3. Ian put his team up after Barclays failed to clear a goalmouth scramble but an own goal by Anuar put the opposition back in the game. Harold restored Sharks lead midway in the first half before Charlson gifted the opposition the opportunity to level the game on the penalty spot to level the game at half-time. Sharks finally succumbed to relentless pressure in the second half and there was no way back for Sharks.
Sharks were intent to put their narrow defeat in their last league game behind them against Barclays and it does seem to look that way when Ian notched his 3rd goal of the season to hand his team the lead inside 10 minutes. However, Barclays came back strongly after going down and were duly rewarded when an enterprising play from the opposition on the right somehow allowed the winger to put in a dangerous cross into Sharks penalty area which was inadvertly put into his own net by Anuar. Nonetheless, a defensive error by the opposition midway in the first half allowed Harold to run into the box to neatly tucked his shot into the far corner for Sharks to regain back the lead.
The goal seemed to settle the nerves being showed by Sharks as they settled into their normal tempo but Barclays remained dangerous on the counter. In one of such forays, Sharks were caught flat-footed at the back after being hassled off the ball in midfield and for the umpteeth times, Charlson allowed the opposition to get back into the game with a clumsy challenge in the area; a challenge that riled his manager on the touchline. Barclays took advantage of the gift to level the game as both teams went level into the break.
The second half was all Barclays as they gain a foothold in the middle of the park as Sharks were often outran and outmuscle in midfield as Sharks defense were on the backfoot for the duration of the half. The alarm bells were starting to ring with the ease of how the quartet of Anuar, Yus, Jaleel and Charlson were beaten time and again in every area and when Barclays almost took the lead when the ball hit the post, it was just a matter of time before they break the deadlock. It soon came shortly in the second half as Sharks defense were taken apart as Barclays took a deserving lead.
Sharks never look like coming back to the game while Barclays threatened on numerous occasion to increase their lead. At the final whistle, the opposition ran out comfortabl winners while Sharks wonder what went wrong as they go down in yet another disappointing defeat.
The disappointed manager commented, 'It's disappointing to see how the team goes down today. Many were just not into their game this evening and it's always disappointing to lose when the team took the lead twice in the game.
He added, 'The defense today were a total disappointment on the whole but overall, the team played badly in a game which we should have 3 points in the bag.
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