Central Park v RTP

While the Sharks were having a good run in the month of June, they were prepared for a backlash from their opponents RTP Engineering in this encounter as they featured 2 members from Blue Chelsea. The team was mentally prepared in what could be a grudge match as the opponent will try to overturn the disappointing result in the earlier encounter with Blue Chelsea.

The Sharks only made 4 changes to the starting line-up with Zul and Din making way for Brendan and Azman respectively while up and coming custodian Amran and last week Man of the match Andrew was forced to miss the encounter for personal and health reasons. However, they were ably replaced by Sharks number one Shaun and Sharks current top scorer Michael. The defence remains unchanged with the quartet of Salihin, Irman, Kelvin and Sarhan remained a pivotal part for Sharks good run for the past 4 games. The effervescent Danial and hardworking Raymond kept their respective places with the manager keeping his faith in them. When the match got on their way, the home team quickly raced to a two goal lead after a perfect cross from Raymond found lone striker Michael in the box as he nodded in with a stinging header and Azman adding another on the 8th minute after a defence splitting pass from Sarhan allows the former to break free from RTP last defender. Azman could have added another to his name shortly afterwards but his shot was well-wide of the post, missing by inches. A couple of chances then went begging with Michael, Jeremy, Danial and Brendan each missing a couple of chances.

The Sharks were cruising with a two-goal cushion before RTP conjured attack of their own from their number 10 playmaker but Sarhan was equaled to the task, sticking like a leech to his man. The defence however had a few scares when RTP threatened to come back into the game by creating chances of their own. Their best chance came when Shaun hesitated to come off his line and with the RTP forward on a one-on-one situation, Shaun had to make a point blank save to deny them to close the deficit. Next came a defensive lapse from Irman which allows RTP to take a quick free-kick on the right which meant the defence have yet to be organised but the Sharks escaped when RTP forward headed the ball over the bar, to the relief of Shaun. Just when RTP were settling down into the game, they were hit yet again on the 28th minute when good work from Brendan found Azman yet again, whose deep run from midfield eluded him from his marker and he seldom misses from close range to make it three for the Sharks. Brendan later added his name to the score sheet when Danial, who was 80% fit due to fever made a jinking run in the center and his pass found the former unmarked to take the Sharks into a comfortable four goal lead at half-time.

Keeping their shape was the call to the Sharks players at half-time despite the four goal cushion. It didn't go unheeded as the Sharks continued their superiority on the game at the start of the second-half with Azman capitalising on RTP defensive lapse to notch his hat-trick after a layoff from Din. The opponent defence then began to crumble with the demoralising score-line and the Sharks created an array of chances but couldn't capitalise on it with Suhaimi, Chiu and Christopher missing the target on a couple of occasion. While the Sharks began to put their off the pedal, RTP were intent to grab a consolation goal and they did put the ball into the net in the 55th minute but it was disallowed after the referee, Mr Ganesan adjudged it to be handled by RTP forward.

That disallowed goal seemed to spur the boys on when Azman's through pass found Suhaimi whose blistering pace allowed him to elude his marker to score Sharks sixth goal of the game. Azman added yet another goal to his name shortly afterwards when Din broke free on the right and his perfect pull back found Azman to tap in his fourth for the game. The latter was unlucky not to add another to his tally in the 68th minute when his 30 yard pile-driver from the edge of the box rocked the bar after poor clearance from RTP off a corner. With the result unquestionable, the Sharks made several substitutions to the team with every substitutions earning a rousing applause from the fans with the great team performance. The loudest applause however were reserved for Sharks poster boy Farhhad who made his late entrance to the game with 10 minutes remaining. Heavily criticised in his last few appearances, he silenced his critics with his first touch of the ball. A corner by Danial found him in the sea of defenders but coming tops this time, he planted a perfect header to notch Sharks eighth of the game and his first for the year. He was unlucky however not to grab a hat-trick when he missed two glaring chances shortly afterwards. The Sharks ended the rout with Christopher notching his first ever goal and Brendan completing in what was the goal of the game. Latching off a sweeping pass from Salihin who jinks his way pass 3 players, Brendan shot through the tiniest of angle that caught the RTP custodian by surprise and to bring his tally to four goals in his short career with the Sharks.

Despite the one-sided affair, the Sharks manager was later criticised for making a series of changes to the team with some players playing out-of-position, totally disrespecting the opponent. He later came out to explain his decision. He said, 'The changes were done not out of disrespect to the opponent. The decision was made purely to test the player abilities while being deplored in an unusual position. With the team not involved in any training sessions, the matches are the only gauge for the player abilities and strength. With results going the Sharks way for the past three games, the team are intent to keep the run going in next week game to end the month of June on a good note.