FLYBOYS vs FAMILY GADONG

FLYBOYS 1

FAMILY GADONG 3



Here we are folks, the final game of the season. Flyboys assembled at the RBRC grandstand looking to round off the season with a good performance and positive result before the festive break. Opponents today are team Family Gadong, of which our defensive stalwart Hj. Hendra will line up with. Flyboys line up from the back was a bit more younger and inexperienced than usual without the presence of key defensive players Hj. Effendy and Nasrul who were not able to make it. So there was full debuts for newbiez Aslam and Zulkhair with Hanif taking a spot on the bench.

Rosli started in goal, R to L at the back was Zul-Amali, Zulkhair, Azman and Aslam. Midfield R to L Ismail, Irwanizam, Jiri and Syazwi. Upfront saw the return of fox-in-the-box Amir with strike partner Zul-Fadli.

The game kicked-off with Team Family Gadong sporting a yellow and black kit similar to the Flyboys 2nd kit. Early in the half, Flyboys were dealt a serious blow as Irwanizam, in his efforts to fend off a couple of opposing players fell awkwardly under a challenge and stayed down for sometime needing some treatment. This in fact was the end of his participation forcing the first change of the game to be made by Flyboys with the introduction of Julian taking up the void central midfield position.

Team FG stated their intent early on with a couple of lofted balls over the top to catch out a Flyboys defence lacking in menacing pace. Their strategy soon paid dividends as one such ball was unable to be intercepted by either Azman or Aslam and a senior Team FG player made a prospective attempt on goal which initially looked as if it was over, but dipped in under the bar at the wrong moment for Flyboys and beyond the reach of Rosli. 1-0 to Team FG.

Capt Amir made a commanders decision to switch Aslam and Julian. The change proved to be good as Aslam got more of the ball in midfield and Julian added some much needed pace to the backline. Soon flyboys started to take the initiative and push forward. There was a period where Flyboys were winning a succession of cornerkicks which were well delivered but Flyboys were unable to capitalize on.

However, the pace of team FG’s frontline continued to cause problems, as their goalie made a huge punt up the pitch, their striker was quickest to it making a run out wide, Zulkhair chased him down as Azman tracked back to catch his strike partner making a similar run to the far post. Goalie Rosli seemed to be in two minds whether or not to close the advancing striker down or stay on his line. It didn’t matter though as the striker whipped the ball across the goal to give his strike partner an easy tap in to double their lead.

Like a wounded beast, flyboys responded aggressively with positive forward play. The link-up between midfield and strikers was good. The best piece of play was when Amir found himself running wide right with the ball and making an excellent cross to pick out Zul-Fadli who rose well in front of his marker and diverted his header just above the crossbar. Not long after there was another glorious opportunity for Flyboys to peg one back, when Julian disguised his freekick to pass wide left to Syazwi who cut inside and lashed a deadly ball into the box but just behind several advancing Flyboys attackers. The half ended with the scoreline reading a sore 2-0.
2nd half

After the break, Flyboys switched to a 4-5-1 formation, Julian shifted inside to the heart of defence with Zulkhair moving to LB and Ismail playing in front of him on the left wing. Riduan who was late cause he was watching an ‘Orphan’ at the Mall slotted in at RM and Ali also came in to play CM. Flyboys continued to create openings in the 2nd half and there was a half-chance early on for Riduan when Julian delivered a long ball from a freekick, Rudy couldn’t make sufficient contact later saying that he wasn’t panas yet. Somewhat against the run of play though, Team FG added another.

Azman attempted to clear the ball but it fell kindly to an FG player who passed to his advancing teammate who looked as if he was offside, but it wasn’t given and despite Rosli coming out quickly to block the shot, it was 3-0. Flyboys kicked off and again responded by pressing forward. Once again our link up play between midfield and attack was good, as Jiri made a trademark mazy run thru the heart of the Team FG defence ignoring calls for him to pass the ball, he made a wonderful reverse pass to send Ali thru who made an equally excellent diagonal run from an onside position. Finding himself in a one v one position, Ali’s shot was just wide aiming for the bottom far post. When a goal did come for Flyboys, the move started from deep in our own half as Zul-Amali picked up a loose ball, he played a quick on-two with Azman and released the ball to Ali who unselfishly squared the ball to Amir. He took an instinctive but tame effort at goal which looked as if it was gonna roll softly into the warm hands of the FG goalie, but as if the ball had been sprayed with WD-40, it slipped thru his hands between his legs and crossed the goal line! And Flyboys pegged one back.

Hanif was introduced into the match replacing Zulkhair at RB who had a good 2nd half. He immediately found himself in action as Team FG started a few attacks from his side, but Julian was able to plug the gaps and Rosli came out when he was needed. Flyboys found themselves getting fouled on various occasions and were awarded a freekick just outside the box. Jiri stepped up to hit one and made an ambitious but affective lob which the goalie parried away for the corner.

As the match winded down, Flyboys started to leave gaps in the back leading to chances for Team FG but there was some good tracking back by Riduan to help out the defence. Towards the end of the match there was a corner kick and the lofted ball fell into the path of Syazwi who came back in, he took one touch to set himself up and just as he was about to pull the trigger the No.6 Team FG player came in ninja-kung-fu-style-two-footed and took away syazwi’s legs. Fearing the worst some Flyboys came to his aid only to be bemused by the sight of Syazwi rolling over in light laughter. The good news was that he was okay and the better news was that he had won us a late penalty.

Amir stepped up to take the ball and place it on the spot as in the distance a confident-looking Julian marched up wanting to try his luck at glory shouting out the words “Im not Hj. Effendy!!” in reference to the last penalty for the Flyboys which Capt Effendy shot wide.

Julian stepped up and wrote his name in the history books of Flyboys Football as the penalty smashed into the top corner with the keeper well and truly undeniably beaten....is what I would’ve liked to report, BUT he skied it high over the bar and ref Roslan blew his whistle to the relief of Team FG..


Man-Of-The-Match : Julian.. yes despite the inglorious pen miss which will live long in Flyboys history, his overall play was as usual excellent particularly when playing as makeshift centre back for the 2nd half away from his normal right back slot.

And so this ends our season thus-far as we break for the Holy month of Ramadhan. Once again a great thank you for those who participated and showed their support for Flyboys football whether you are putting on the boots and having a kick about or simply reading the blog and filling up 123.45MHz with your valued opinions. Hope to see a growing participation of players when we come back.

Please do accept my apologies for inconsistencies in reporting.
Have a happy and safe Ramadhan.

- FO Azman Hanif, B767 fleet.