After a disastrous performance that resulted in an 8-0 defeat a fortnight ago, Schwarz Star was up against Rul United at Kent Ridge Secondary School. Kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes as neither sides had a match ball with them. Despite the delay, it did not dampen the spirits of players.

The Schwarzians in yellow kicked off the game and it didn’t take long for the first goal to come. A mistake by Whye Ming saw him drop the ball as he landed after a successful catch. The opposing striker, still lurking around him, pounced on the loose ball and blasted it into the back of the open goal.

1-0 down but Schwarz Star fought hard and reclaimed a goal from a corner. Peter’s corner into the 6 yard box was met by a wild swing from the opponent, sending it past his own keeper.

Half time soon arrived with the scoreline tied at 1-1. Coach Jason took the opportunity to deliver his message at half time and the sides re-emerged for the second half.

Schwarz Star looked more goal-hungry than their opponent and was quickly proved by Yang Sheng, who was making a return after a long layoff due to his NS commitments. Receiving a brilliant throw from Yun, he controlled it and spun around his defender, before lashing a ferocious shot from metres outside the box at goal. The keeper got a touch on it but it wasn’t enough to stop the ball from going in off the base of his left goalpost.

With the lead, the Falcons took the game to their opponents, bombarding them with waves of attacks. The Schwarzians thought they got the third when a corner in was met by the rising Satnam, who headed it towards the bottom left corner of the goal. However, a timely intervention by the opponent cleared the ball off the line.

With the amount of pressure applied on the opponents, the arrival of the third goal was never a doubt. A through pass from Melvin played Peter through the defence and the keeper was the only player between Peter and the goal. Peter went for the low drive past the keeper but was stopped by the keeper’s outstretched hand.

However, as luck would have it, the ball bounced up into the air, and all Peter had to do was to get his head to it. He did, and the ball trickled into the back of the net, giving the Schwarzians a 3-1 lead with a third of the half to go. It was a much welcomed goal, as the Falcons looked to bounce back with a win after a dismay performance last time out.

The match had its last piece of action when a penalty was awarded to Rul United after a trip in the box. The pressure was mounting as the penalty taker was at the spot, with Whye Ming doing everything to put him off. The referee blew the whistle and the penalty was saved by Whye Ming down his left side.

The Falcons were relieved but it didn’t last long as the referee blew for a retake, citing that Ishak had entered the box before the kick was taken. The retake was taken by another player, and he made no mistake with his effort, sending Whye Ming the wrong way.

3-2 was the score now and it was all to play for with just a couple of minutes left in the game. Schwarz Star defended as a unit in the dying minutes to secure the hard-fought win, and it was welcomed by the team as the end of an eventful February drew near.