Hilderinc Football Club

HFC Media File Picture

After recent weeks, in fact much of a frustrating season, of unkind outcomes not befitting the effort, Hilderinc FC finally found some joy in translating intent to results when they overcame a feisty Vietnam United in a come from behind win to cling to the slimmest of hope against the drop.

However, it was never going to come easy for the battered Blacks, who had to content with late withdrawals which left the squad uncomfortably thin, but the eleventh hour inclusion of Logaraj Sundram, Liao Jincai and Michael Shankar gave a respectable outlook by kickoff.

Unlike the ill-advised first leg encounter early in the season, which was allowed to carry on in ghastly weather and on a heavily water-logged pitch, the conditions presented itself for a much fluid meeting, but in reality, proved to be a strain for the neutrals as both sides started scrapping for any advantage as the contrasting approach denied any eloquence.

With the Hilderincs turning to Sunny Tharidu in goal once again, the presence of Denis Lobov and Iain Kennedy and Nicholas Ledenmark soon put the rest at ease as they provided the bulwark on which much of the initiative was built on.

Though speculative efforts from Jon Loh and Hoonki Song was closest they got to troubling the United's goal, the edge was with the Blacks as they worked around the Vietnamese's robust style, keeping them pinned behind the ball for long periods.

But the Hilderincs suffering a chronic case of the Groundhog Day syndrome over the last year or so, found themselves a goal down against the run of play when Vietnam Utd found a way through, threatening more misery on the exasperated Blacks who desperately sought a way back into the game before the break, but found no favours.

With urgent need to refocus after minor events at half time, the Hilderincs were at a threshold at the start of the second half as Logaraj Sundram and Raihan Hamzah was brought on to add fresh legs to the cause.

Justifiably the changes paid immediate dividends as Logaraj Sundram levelled the account within two minutes of the restart after he benefitted from uncertainties resulting from a long Nicholas Ledemark before coolly putting the ball over the keeper.

Buoyant by the equaliser, the Hilderincs upper the ante as they reverted to their not too long ago famous pressing from attack football, in addition to matching the Vietnamese in aggression.

With Ryan Ng and Hoonki Song in full throttle on both sides, and fullbacks Nicholas Ledenmark and Muhd Fuzuli pressing high up the pitch, the Hilderincs dominated the proceedings peerlessly, as the midfield combination of Rama Witjaksono, Raihan Hamzah and Jon Loh supplied excellent cover and attacking impetus, while Denis Lobov and Iain Kennedy looked like to colossuses in front of a lively Sunny Thairdu.

It was no surprise then that the Hilderincs took the lead after a sweeping move involving Logaraj Sundram, Ian Morris and Ryan Ng provided Hoonki Song a perfect opportunity to bag his first goal for the Blacks with a well taken finish.

Ryan Ng, who never stopped running and hustling throughout the game, provided the icing on the cake when he got himself on the scoresheet with a quality goal to cement his man of the match performance.

Logaraj Sundram, who started the Blacks comeback could have ended the day with a hat-trick had he put the ball on either side of the post when he missed narrowly on his right and was denied by the post with a strike on the left.

However, with a couple of injuries forcing changes towards the final minutes of the game, the Blacks unwittingly allowed Vietnam Utd back into the game with one case of careless defending, setting up an necessarily more than desired exciting finish to an already enthralling game, but the Hilderincs ran out deserved winners.

Now though the Hilderincs' fate in the division could be settled even before they play their final league game in two weeks' time, the attention and planning is already towards next season, wherever that maybe in.

Final Score

Hilderinc FC 3 : Vietnam Utd 2

Goals: Logaraj Sundram, Hoonki Song, Ryan Ng

MOM: Ryan Ng

Yellow Cards: Ian Morris, Raihan Hamzah, Logaraj Sundram, Michael Shankar

Starting Lineup

1. Sunny Tharidu

2. Danial Syakir

3. Denis Lobov

4. Iain Kennedy

5. Nicholas Ledenmark

6. Jon Loh

7. Rama Witjaksono

8. Hoonki Song

9. Colin Thornley

10. Ian Morris

11. Ryan Ng

Substitutes

12. Liao Jincai

13. Logaraj Sundram

14. Raihan Hamzah

15. Muhd Fazuli

16. Michael Shankar

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