ESA gain sweet revenge over Olak

29/06/1997


ELECTRICAL Switchgear Automation (ESA) turned on the heat in the second
half to win 2-0 and deny League champions Old La Sallians of Klang (Olak)
a double in the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior League hockey final at the Bukit Jalil
Stadium yesterday.
In the earlier match, Tampin District beat Petaling Jaya Municipal
Council (PJMC) 3-2 for third placing at the same venue.
It was sweet revenge for ESA, last year's double champions, as Olak were
the ones who denied them the League title.
The first half was centred around midfield as both teams took the
cautious approach. While Olak had no penalty corners, ESA received six but
four were wasted as Mohamed Danir failed to push the ball more than one
foot.
After the breather, ESA threw caution to the wind but in-form Olak
goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin stopped them time and again.
In the 36th minute, ESA received their seventh penalty corner and this
time their set-piece worked. K. Keevan Raj took an on-the-turn shot only
to be denied by Roslan.
Olak got back into the match after that but Sukhwinder Singh's shot
missed by inches.
In the 43rd minute, ESA perfected another penalty corner set-piece which
Keeven calmly hammered home.
Olak were a lost side after that and ESA were rewarded for their
persistance in the 58th minute when K. Ganesh made a solo run and sounded
the board.
Man-of-the match K. Logan Raj played a pivotal role in ESA's victory,
running up and down tirelessly to push his teammates to the maximum.
The battle for third placing saw yellow cards flashed at Tampin
goalkeeper S. Kumar and PJMC goalkeeper Sharizam Mat Zian for rough
tackles.
PJMC went ahead in the 27th minute when a penalty stroke was awarded off
Kumar's yellow card infringment. League topscorer Mohamed Hafiz moved in
to score his 18th goal.
In the 34th minute, Tampin equalised when Noreffendy Ramli scored a
field goal.
After the breather, Sharizam brought down Mohamed Fairz in the
semicircle and a stroke was awarded to Tampin. Nishel Kumar tucked in for
the lead.
In the 51st Noreffendy cracked a penalty corner for his second and
Tampin's third goal.
PJMC's Samsul Kamal pulled one back in the 69th minute but it was too
late to deny Tampin.
"We had numerous chances at goal and could have won by a bigger margin,
but Olak goalkeeper Roslan was a hard man to beat today," said Esa coach
Bob Rajendran.
"I am glad the boys played to instruction, they were simply great."
The defeat did not go down well with Olak assistant team manager Joseph
de Silva. "Too many penalty corners were awarded against us," he said.
RESULTS - Final: ESA 2 Olak 0; 3rd: Tampin District 3 PJMC 2.
ROLL OF HONOUR - Topscorer: Hafiz Hussin (PJMC, 18 goals); Best Player
of the League: Syayrim Uda Karim (Olak); Best Goalkeeper: Roslan
Jamaluddin (Olak); Most Promising Player: Wan Mohamed Zarir (Bukit Jalil
Sports School); Fairplay: Tampin District; Man-of-the-Match: K. Logan Raj
(ESA).
(END)