HLFT vs. ASSOCIATION OF BANKS

I initially tried to compose a boring Malay version depiction of the match. Failed miserably and was painfully uninspiring. As I waited for the doomed yet romantically attached-to-me Newcastle club game, suddenly the urge to write slowly crept into my head. To describe HLFT game as fantastic would be an overstatement. To me, it was more of a duel of tactical nous between Shukor and us. With losing both of HTFT prolific marksmen through injury, there was a lot to be desired for the makeshift puny strike force. Battles were won and lost at around the middle and flanks, yet HLFT was more sanguine in its effort with a goal thanks to a new left footer. As the game wore on, HTFT was exposed to a new reality, right flank fragility. A quick free kick by AOB resulted to a punishable header towards HLFT goal post. Failure of HLFT to neutralize AOB main man again resulted to heartbreak with the latter team striker producing an opportunist strike straight into the former team net.

Second half resumed with Gugu and Laboi filling the middle slot with Helmi and Din on the flanks. Azri and Safwan were called in to create havoc, such fearsome combination, both with pace to burn and guile to navigate. Defence too became more rigid, purposeful, unwavering and came out with a new bone-crunching, bar-jarring, mind-reading, no-prisoner attitude. Even with the likes of a star club Wijaya FC striker could not shattered HTFT resolute defending. A leg breaking tackle was to become the first warning, then came an uncompromising block by Amirul resulting a yellow card. HTFT finally broke AOB heart with a magnificent towering goal by HTFT tenacious centre half Atok. HTFT continued her newfound confidence with mazy runs from Azri and Helmi but both were to be denied by AOB defences using dirty tactics and professional fouls. Temperatures started to rise with tantrums shown by both set of players, taunting girls to the matchstick suspects. Damned I’m tired of writing; let’s stop now since the game finally ended 2-2. It was unusual for HTFT to end a game with a draw, unusual indeed.

MOM: None since everybody contributed equal commitment. First time ever, a collective MOM effort, MOM was the team, HTFT.