FlyBoys VS RBA REJAX

Match Report

Flyboys vs RBA Rejax

Wembley Stadium 5 p.m. Sunday 18 October 2009

Once again the glorious Flyboys, complete with their army of loyal fans crowded into Wembley Stadium to do battle with their arch enemy, the Evil Empire that is RBA Rejax.
Coach Amir and Captain Hj Effendy had decided on a special plan for the team squad – if you showed up, you played. With a degree of cunning rarely seen in Brunei football, Hj Effendy decided to confuse both RBA Rejax and Flyboys by putting a complete novice in goal, stoutly supported by 4 defenders. This was surprising enough, but when the team took positions for the opening whistle, Flyboys only had one mid field player – Jerry. The rest were all goal hungry strikers just waiting to pounce.
So the starting line up was:

Hj Effendy

(17) Zul Amali (21) Shukriman (39) Hafizh (4) Julian

(25) Jerry

(11) Giggs (7) Aiman (55) Syazwi (26) Zulfadli (?)Ismail

The Ref blew his whistle to start the Titanic struggle. Flyboys were away to fantastic start with a hungry, fit strike force laying siege to the Rejax goal. No more were Flyboys a group who resorted to the boring long lob for some poor exhausted guy to chase. This time, Flyboys were stringing together low accurate passes in close play that clearly gave them the upper hand. Rejax were definitely on the back foot, with many minutes ticking by with the ball kept firmly in Rejax’s half of the pitch. Short, sharp, accurate passing, running off the ball for each other and creative play were the hallmark of Flyboys in the first half.

While all this was going on, Flyboys novice goalie was signing autographs and complaining of a sore back, a sore leg, a bad roster and several other things. This was a good thing because at least the ball was down the other end of the pitch and at least Hj Effendy hadn’t fallen asleep.
Despite the attacking nature of Flyboy’s play, Rejax were always capable of deathly counter attacks, and several times, the fast legs and determined tackling of Julian, Shukriman and Zul Amali coupled with the solid blocking play of Hafizh to thwart their efforts.

Several of the least memorable parts of the first half were when Amir forgot how to do a Throw In and Syazwi forgot the Off-Side rule.
Both feet on the ground Amir. Not one foot on the ground with the other in the air like a reject from the ballet company. Both feet on the ground.
Syazwi, next time we fly together, we are going to use the time in the cruise to make sure you understand the Offside rule, and the necessity of getting back on side. Remember to bring your boots to the Flight Deck.
Anyway, despite several shots at goal, the Ref blew the whistle for half time with the score at nil all.

Half time saw some clever tactical moves made by Flyboys. Amir came off and was replaced by Cabin Crew Kairal or Hairal – I never learned which. This was very important because it meant that Amir could take a break and monitor the game from the touchline while Hj Effendy could monitor the game from the goal. Monitoring the game from both on and off the pitch – that’s clever tactics for you.

All this cleverness however came to nothing because we were slow to start, while Rejax leapt at Flyboys from the start of the second half.
They had cunningly replaced their strikeforce with some very fast players who took advantage of our defenders weariness.
At the 52nd minute point, Rejax made a half hearted attack that would have come to nothing in the first half when Flyboys defence was fresh. But now our defenders were tired and half a pace behind the play. This gave Rejax the space they needed and a low shot from the right side of the penalty area left Hj Effendy completely wrong footed, and the ball went into the net in the far corner. It wasn’t exactly against the run of play, but it was definitely more than Rejax deserved. Regardless, the score was now
Rejax 1 : Flyboys 0

Eleven minutes later, Rejax scored a brilliant goal. The right winger put a searching ball across to the left wing who sprinted onto it, ran at the goal, composed himself and blasted the ball into the net from just inside the Penalty Area. Hj Effendy had no chance.
Rejax 2 : Flyboys 0

At this point the stadium started emptying. The masses of Rejax supporters, confident of the victory, left early to begin celebrating. The less loyal Flyboy supporters left to go home and have a good cry.
The fans who stayed were rewarded with a come back that will go in the record books.

By now the Rejax defence were relaxed and confident of victory, while Flyboys finally got into gear and realised they were playing for pride and glory. The defence started merging with the attackers and several fantastic runs by Julian and Zul Amali down the left wing were kept out by pure dumb luck.
But luck never lasts for ever, and eventually Flyboys got their reward. Yet another raid down the left wing resulted in Hafizh in the Penalty Area with both time and space. In the 63rd minute of play he composed himself and placed the ball firmly into the back of the net from just to the left of the goal centre. GOAL!!!!!!!
Rejax 2 : Flyboys 1

Flyboys fans smelled blood and wanted more from their strikers. The cheering reached a crescendo as Flyboys, now firmly in command peppered the goal from both long and short range.
Rejax didn’t know how to respond to the increase in application from the Flyboys and resorted to desperate, last minute defending. That was never going to be successful enough for them to survive to the final whistle.
Eventually in the 73rd minute of play the ball went to our half time Cabin Crew Substitute Khairal.
He was about 5 meters out side the Penalty Area just to the right of centre.
He took aim.
He struck
The ball flew
The goalie dived
The net bulged
A brilliant goal from long range in to the top far corner of the goal.
What a little beauty !!!!!!
The female supporters were screaming with delight and the security staff had to forcibly stop them from running on the field to join the celebrations.
Rejax 2 : Flyboys 2

The final minutes of the game were desperate. Flyboys wanted a winner while Rejax desperate to hang on to the draw. The men on both sides gave their all in the struggle for glory.
But then the Ref blew the whistle for the last time.

Flyboys came off the field like champions, Rejax came off looking like people who had just escaped defeat by the tiniest of margins.
The scoreline said “2 - 2 : Draw”
Those who were there knew that in this encounter, Flyboys were the champions.


Written by Captain Allan Bradley.