It was to be the first game under the new stewardship of Lek Yong Meng. Black Knight had a management shake-up following the step-down of Law Sie King onto the new and inexperienced Yong Meng.
However, it turned out to be a good start for the young player/manager as the Knighters pulled off a spirited 2-2 draw against U-18 at Clementi Woods.
U-18 were one of only two teams below Black Knight in the table but demonstrated their fighting spirits to gain a foothold on their opponents in the standings as they dominated the first half on a bumpy Clementi Woods pitch. A blunder in the Knighters' defence left the U-18 striker with a close-up shot which ricocheted off the upright and goalkeeper Leonard Teng into the net for the opening goal of the game.
U-18 continued to dominate possession territorially as Knighters' lone striker Darren Ow was caught offside several times, much to the frustration of their new manager. However, midway through the first half, against the run of play, star player Jack Yu inadvertently released Darren Ow through one-on-one with the U-18 keeper after a defender had slipped up. Darren calmed his nerves and slotted past the U-18 keeper for 1-1 half-time score.
The second half began brightly for the Knighters. A confusion in the high-lined U-18 defence left Wong Kian Hoe with only the goalie to beat 30 yards out. He coolly placed the ball to the left of the advancing keeper and it eventually crept in off-the-post for a 2-1 lead.
Instead of sitting on their slender lead, Black Knight continued on the offense and came close several times more.
However, it was to be another fluke goal from U-18 midway through the second forty-five. Tough tackling midfielder Siripong Teo was penalized having brought down two U-18 players just inside the Knighters' half. The resulting free kick was struck directly at Leonard's goal and unexpectedly sailed over his out-stretched arms.
Player/Manager Yong Meng was then forced into a substitution when goalscorer Kian Hoe suffered cramps. Yong Meng brought himself on, in hopes of regaining the lead. That move however, changed the pattern of the Knighters' game from a well-holding defensive look to an adventurous attacking line-up.
With that, U-18 came close with several breakaways and had also drew a brilliant save from Leonard deep into injury time. But the Knighters eventually held on for a well-deserved 2-2 draw.
Although the team had hoped for a much-needed win, the performance satisfied Yong Meng and newly appointed captain Gary Cheong. With such a spirited performance, the Knighters would surely be hoping to build on that in their next game against stellar-occupiers, Goal-On-Sight.