Sengkang played with 10 men for almost an hour after goalkeeper Joey Sim was red-carded for what appeared an innocuous foul committed during the 28th minute of play.

Inspite of the numerical advantage, the hosts were unable to increase their goal tally during the remaining fifteen minutes of the first and the full 45 minutes of the second-half.

Still the win did the Eastern side a world of good as they seek to climb up the standings and play catch-up with the three teams roosting above them.

Tampines Coach Vorawan Chitavanich happily took the 3-points, seeing it as an expected result against bottom-of-the-table Sengkang:

“We played easy in the second-half knowing we have a game soon against SAFFC. We need to reserve energy for that big game. To hit our target we need to win against the big teams like SAFFC so I am happy we finished off the game in the first-half and slowed a little in the second” said Vorawan matter-of-factly.

The Stags made their intentions known early when in the fifth minute Sutee Suksomkit side-stepped ‘keeper Joey Sim and tapped in for the hosts to take an early lead.

The midfield dynamo then made it two to the good a full 26 minutes later under contentious circumstances.

The initial run into the Dolphins goal area resulted in ‘keeper Sim rushing out of his box and challenging Sutee who went down in a heap under the Sim’s robust challenge for the ball.

Referee Abdul Malik Bashir raised the red-card to Sim and awarded the edge of the box free-kick to the home side; Sutee himself did the honours and his powerful drive left replacement Dolphin ‘keeper Adi Salleh no chance as it rocketed into the top right corner of the net.

The dominance of the Tampines front-line, launched from their commanding mid-field, came close to making it three when in the 34th minute Ridhuan Muhammad flicked the ball to nippy Aliff Shafaein inside the Dolphin box; Aliff duly converted but linesmen John Doo flagged for off-side.

Aliff, ever the menacing forward, then hit the side netting two minutes later after blazing down the left flank and leaving the Dolphin defence in his wake.

Due reward for the industrious midfielder eventually came during the 38th minute – from off a counter-attack, Stags defender Yusiskandar Yusop laid the ball to Aliff who made his run onto goal, lifting it cheekily above on-rushing custodian Adi for the encore finish of the half.

Resumption of play saw the Stags playing a neat 1-2 game as they buzzed about the Dolphin goalmouth freely with clever passes and good control of the ball; still, they failed to make their final connections more lethal as the final efforts failed to materialise into goals.

Another off-side ruling, this time by linesmen Tang Yew Mun in the 67th, was given after Aliff put his shot past Adi but was adjudged to have been behind the Dolphin defence when the ball was passed to him.

Profligate Yusiskandar (Yusop) then wasted his 74th minute effort that could have made the scoreline more embarrassing for the visitors; Sutee’s industry saw the Thai breach his markers as he crossed from the edge of corner-line, recipient Yusiskandar wastefully blasting over from just 6-yards out.

A tepid final fifteen minutes then followed as the Stags secured the spoils by tightening at the back, thereby keeping the already limited and insipid Dolphin attacks further at bay.

Sengkang Coach Saswadimata Dasuki later highlighted his reservations about the 28th minute red-card to ‘keeper Sim and about the fact that the referee was overzealous in his red-carding of the Dolphins goalkeeper:-

“The red-card was too harsh as he (Sim) was going for the ball and did not bring Sutee down – it happened during the course of fair play and the red card was a turning point for us” said the Dolphin Coach unhappily.

Adding-on, Saswa stated adamantly that:"We lost our goalkeeper through a poor call and that was the turning point for us… after that we could not come back against a strong side like Tampines.” ended the perturbed Dolphins Coach.

TAMPINES FAMILY CARNIVAL Tampines Street 22 Sun, 11 May 2008

PM Lee meets the Stags

PRIME MINISTER Lee Hsien Loong paid high homage to Tampines Rovers FC when he donned the Stags jersey during the Tampines Family Carnival held on Sunday, 11th May 2008.
        
It was the first time PM Lee wore our team colours as he joined the festivities with TRFC’s S-League players, the Stags’ die-hard fans and Tampines residents at the Central Piazza, in front of Blk 278, Tampines Street 22.

As the crowd was being entertained to a variety of Mother’s Day activities and games for children and families, the Stags went around making friends with one and all.

Because they were special invited guests to the carnival, the Stags posed with resident for photographs, signed autographs and played their role in community bonding like football stars should – with smiles of friendship.

Led by team captain Rafi Ali, the Stags even pitched in to help decorate the Tampines Rovers FC area with banners and balloons before the carnival kicked off.

And it was all because PM Lee, the event’s Guest-Of-Honour,  would come a-visiting., which he soon did, accompanied by host MP Ms Irene Ho and special guests Mr Mah Bow Tan, Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Mr Ong Kian Min and Mr Sin Boon Ann.

Indeed, PM Lee made the Stags feel very much at home, chatting with them and looking the part when he gladly put on the Tampines match jersey after being presented with it by skipper Rafi.

Our PM then gladly posed for pictures with the Stags and their fans, who were all only too willing to savour the opportunity to meet the leader of the country.

By capturing the moment in pictures, they will have stories to tell their grandchildren.