League

Rayleigh Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Rudy Tan made the kick off which started today's match. Clive Lee's late challenge caught a Rayleigh's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Clive Lee helped the player get up and apologised. In the 3rd minute, Clive Lee hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rudy Tan in the 5th minute of play forced Eltham's goalkeeper Jonathan Tian to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jonathan Tian made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rudy Tan in the 6th minute of play. After some careless play in the Rayleigh defense, Shafiq Hsi kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Bryan Hian. The Rayleigh fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Bryan Hian should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rudy Tan in the 10th minute of play forced Eltham's goalkeeper Jonathan Tian to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 13 minutes into the match, Rayleigh's goal looked a bit too open when Amirul Tioe came free, but Bryan Hian reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mark Yip came free with the goalkeeper in the 17th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Jonathan Tian could save by the left post. After having played for 19 minutes, Amirul Tioe managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Eltham's supporters crossed their fingers, but Amirul Tioe was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Zafran Hongyi's late challenge caught a Eltham's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Zafran Hongyi helped the player get up and apologised. After 21 played minutes Rayleigh got a freekick which was hit by Zafran Hongyi. Clive Lee recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 24th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Eltham's Jonathan Tian played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rudy Tan in the 29th minute of play. Hamir Yip hit a great freekick 35 minutes into the match. 37 minutes into the match, Eltham's goalkeeper Jonathan Tian had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Zafran Hongyi. Shafiq Hsi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 39th minute. Bryan Hian tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The crowd rose to their feet as Rayleigh's Rudy Tan slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jonathan Tian. That made the score 1-1 after 41 minutes of play. 45 minutes into the match, Shafiq Hsi notched a goal, 1-2, to the right of Rayleigh's Bryan Hian. Bryan Hian was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Anil Au hit a great freekick 47 minutes into the match.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Noh Ning stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 56th minute, Rudy Tan made a precise shot to the right of Jonathan Tian. Eltham's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-2. The crowd rose to their feet as Clive Lee kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Bryan Hian. That made the score 2-3 in the 60 minute of play. If Zafran Hongyi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jonathan Tian showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rudy Tan in the 69th minute of the match. Jonathan Tian took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hamir Yip, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Hamir Yip hit a great freekick 74 minutes into the match. Bryan Hian made a fantastic save in the 75th minute, when Amirul Tioe sent off a good shot on target. In the 78th minute, Noh Ning hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 3-3 became the score in the 80th minute when Rudy Tan elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. In the 83rd minute, Noh Dhanabalan sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Eltham's Jonathan Tian didn't even have to move. Jonathan Tian took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rudy Tan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rayleigh were awarded a corner in the 87th minute after Eltham's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Noh Dhanabalan took the corner. Jonathan Tian took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mark Yip, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Bryan Hian showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Noh Ning, who was totally free with the ball in the 94th minute. Clive Lee sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Rayleigh had won after a very even match.