Sengkang Punggol maintained their
confident start to the season as they held S.League champions SAFFC
to a 1-1 draw in their season opener.
Conceding a first half goal, the Dolphins showed enough resolve
after the break to fight back with a goal of their own and finish
the game in charge.
Sengkang were under pressure in the first period, however, as the
consistently impressive Therdsak Chaiman orchestrated a number of
fast raids, but once in sight of goal the Thai, at least early on,
was unable to find the target.
Then he carved out openings for Masrezwan Masturi twice within
minutes. The former Woodlands Wellington man first tested Amos Boon
with a low shot, then set up Aleksandar Duric with a penetrating
cross in the 13th minute.
The big striker though spurned the opportunity which a player of
his guile and experience would have been expected to take.
Duric though was soon to make a more positive impact.
In the 32nd minute the striker, wide out on the left, lifted a
wonderful deep cross into the box and Chaiman ran through to meet
it with a crisp header to send his side into a well deserved
lead.
There was a worrying moment at the heart of the SAFFC defence when
Daniel Bennett had to track back to clear off the line, as a mix-up
between keeper Shahril Jantan and Hafiz Osman saw Paul Bekombo
Ekollo lunge at the loose ball and steer it goalwards.
Sengkang did create a couple of first half chances, Jon Angelucci
firing a free kick against the bar and Ross McKenzie just inches
from laying on a plate another free kick intended for Ekollo who
got a head to the ball only for the flag to be raised.
SAFFC coach Richard Bok was reasonably satisfied with that first
half, but his rival coach, Trevor Morgan, read the riot act to his
players at half time.
We talked at half time in the dressing room, he revealed after
the game, And I did all the talking!
Clearly it worked as the Dolphins put in a much improved second
half.
By the end Bok was throwing on substitutes to save a point.
We still need to work on our shooting, he admitted, But the
defence is also giving cause for concern.
John Wilkinson was wilting after his illness and we needed fresh
legs. By the end I was happy to preserve a point.
Sengkang earned that point in a way that would not have pleased Bok
and his team.
The Dolphins won a corner on the left in the 73rd minute and Haris
Sumri delivered the ball straight into the top right corner of the
net, with defenders on the line unable to head clear and enough
going on at the near post to distract everyone else.
Both teams missed more chances with Therdsak ballooning the ball
over the bar once more and Noor Ali skimming a nicely chipped shot
just over the bar towards the end.
Sengkang had a goal disallowed at the start of the second half
after a push on the keeper and SAFFC also had the ball in the net
themselves in the last minute.
But the referee had already whistled for an infringement on the
edge of the area and brought play back for the free kick.
Therdsak Chaiman was an influential figure for the Warriors, took
his goal well and never stopped running.
There was some stout defending by the Dolphins, too, with captain
Mohd Mardani Fatahollah and Cole Tinkler outstanding and youngster
Nabeel Yusoff showing steel in midfield.
With another 1-1 draw at home following their run in the SingTel
League Cup, Sengkang are quickly proving to be a team with more
resolve and quality than last season's edition.