Match Day News
Vipers Académie Sociale. 2 - 1 Newton Heath FC (EFL).
Scorer(s): Ewan Lim (20’)
Mohamad Sarif (70’)
S’pore Vipers AS claimed only their second league win of the season, and in so doing stopped the rot of 5 consecutive defeats as they earned a hard fought 2-1 win over Newton Heath at Ang Mo Kio Secondary School. Ewan Lim and Mohamad bagged the goals that sandwiched a Newton Heath equalizer in a game that saw both team missing from the penalty spot and Richard Lee suffering a nasty gash to the head that required ten stitches.
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Player manager Richard Lee suffered a head
wound four minutes from time that required ten
stitches in A&E.
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Starting in a conventional 4-4-2 with Jie En in goal, Richard, Juraimi, Fadzli and Mick anchoring the back four, Vipers AS were supported in midfield with Wayne Sim and Mohamad in the middle, flanked by Rashid and Mizan. Mizan, in particular, was motivated to do well against his former club Newton Heath. Meanwhile up front Vipers AS was led by big and small partnership of Ewan and Alvin Goh.
The match started tentatively as both teams played patient build up and tested each other’s defense. There was an intense battle in midfield, with both teams winning and losing possession regularly. Newton Heath had more forays into Vipers AS’ penalty box, but were lacking in their final ball distribution. In the 20th min, Vipers AS took the lead against the run of play in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.
A free kick from the right by Mizan was lofted into the box, with Ewan contesting the opposition keeper for the ball. There appeared to be little danger at this point when the keeper came out to claim the ball. But as he landed, he spilled the ball, which hit the back of Ewan’s ankle, and bounced straight into the net. Vipers AS players cheered as Ewan, the veteran goalkeeper scored only his second Vipers goal in history.
The goal spurred Vipers AS on, and the players started to keep better possession of the ball, using the flanks to good effect. The Vipers had an excellent chance to extend their lead when the referee awarded them a penalty for a tackle from behind on Ewan in the penalty box, but as Ewan stepped up to take the penalty, the Newton Heath custodian atoned for his earlier error by excellently palming the ball out for a corner.
Just before half time, Newton Heath also managed to have a rub of the green when they too got themselves a penalty when Mick was deemed to be holding back their winger inside the box. Nevertheless, youthful goalkeeper Jie En proved equal to the task and pulled out two great saves in succession, diving to his left to save the penalty, before getting his hand to the follow up shot and get it out for a corner. The corner proved to be the last piece of action for the first half.
Newton Heath came out attacking in the second half, trying to force an equalizer. Vipers AS did well to defend the attacks, but were undone by another bit of controversy by the match official. In the 60th min, a corner from Newton Heath was cleared only to the half way line. Just as the ball was crossed in again, a Newton Heath player, from a seemingly offside position, got to the ball ahead of Jie En and directed it into the net from the near post.
However, full credit to the Vipers AS players as they never let their heads drop, and went on to retake the lead in the 70th min. Jia Hao made a dash down the left flank, and delivered a low pass to Mohamad in the center. He skipped past three Newton Heath players on the edge of the 12 yard box, before turning and shooting to see his shot evade the diving keeper to put Vipers back in the lead.
Vipers AS had to dig deep to hold on to the lead, as Newton Heath started throwing everything at their goal towards the end of the game. The task was made all the more difficult when AS were reduced to nine men, with duo Mizan and Richard forced to leave the field of play due to injuries, with the latter suffering a deep cut to his forehead in a clash of heads with the opponent.
The team held on at the end for only their second league win of the season, but were made to count the costs of victory as Richard eventually ended up in A&E ten stitches to his head wound.
Vipers AS man-of-the-match : Mohamad Sarif
Line-up: Chua Jie En (gk), Richard Lee, Mohd Fadzli, Muhd Juraimi, Mick Ho, Mizan Dani, Wayne Sim, Mohamad Sarif, Abdul Rashid, Ewan Lim, Alvin Goh
Substitutions: Pek Jia Hao (sub Richard), Lau Hung Tuan (sub Rashid)