Saunders SC and Java Lane SC played out an entertaining goalless draw in a tense City FL President’s Trophy 2nd match at the City Football League ground.
Both teams set off on right foot as they wanted to make early inroads in a physically arduous game.
There was a lot of argy bargee going on from the start as the hostile nature of the atmosphere reflected on the players in front of an almost packed Kew Points Road.
Saunders had the first clear chance of the game as Allaba Niangoran Eudes headed over the cross bar from the in swinging corner taken by Dilan Kaushalya.
Saunders skipper Sanoj Sameera tried his luck with a thunderous 35 yard pile-driver which needed a diving save from Dammika Senerath.
Photo Album – Saunders SC vs Java Lane SC – City FL President’s Trophy
Java Lane on the counter attack threatened when Mohamed Aleem found Afam Akram inside the penalty box from a through ball, but Akram’s effort sailed over, with support on the right.
Java Lane upped the ante after brief spell of Saunders’ dominance as they created a chance of their own from a set piece, the snap shot was fired over the bar by Yapi Yako which summed up a half of a few good chances which were wasted by poor finishing.
The second half kicked off with the same intent by both teams keen on making an early break through.
Java Lane’s Rizkhan Faizer’s free-kick was denied by a diving Rasik Rishad while Janaka Chaminda and Akram wasted chances for the Slave Island lads.
Saunders had the ball in the back of the net but the goal scorer was deemed to have been off-side. Then on the counter, Mohamed Abdullah raced down the right and sent a cross across the face of the goal but it was cleared away.
As the game progressed both defences held firm as the offensive lines continued to be frustrated. The frustration showed in some of the Java Lane players as a hefty number of reckless challenges started to fly in.
The referee to his credit kept a hold of the game throughout as he kept the game in check with a few warnings and stern words to players of both teams.
As fatigue kicked in, the chances were few and far between. A few changes were made in the latter half of the game for both teams which didn’t prove to be as clinical as expected as the game was settling into a draw.
In a rather cagey affair the Saunders full back Niangoran was a class apart holding his line as well as surging forward with his purposeful runs which gave Java Lane something to think about through the game.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Allaba Niangoran Eudes
