Lady Luck smiles on PJMC

17/02/2003

PETALING Jaya Municipal Council (PJMC) rode on luck yesterday when they
beat Yayasan Negri Sembilan (YNS) 2-1 in the MHF-Milo-Admiral-NSC Junior
Hockey League at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
PJMC were a burnt-out team, after giving their all in the 1-2 defeat to
Anderson Xybase at Ipoh on Saturday, but still YNS failed to score off the
numerous sitters they had.
Fitness is a big problem for PJMC and it might work against them when
they play better sides in Division One.
But the three `lucky' points they received placed them third in the
standings with a total of six, only losing out on goal difference to
table-toppers Pahang Telekom and second placed Malaysia Sports School who
have both played one match less.
YNS had six penalty corners in 70 minutes, but their stopper Khairi
Mansor still had the old rules ingrained in his mind, and tried to make
dead stops, and the PJMC runners easily blocked all their attempts.
PJMC scored first in the 16th minute off a Zulfaddli Isa penalty corner
deflection and that was the only action in the first half, as YNS were
contended with defending.
The second half belonged entirely to YNS as they went out looking for
the equaliser and finally found it in the 61st minute when Arial Aiman
tapped in a field goal.
But even before YNS could settle down, PJMC took the lead again when
Zulfaddli scored his second. YNS practically camped in the PJMC danger
zone for the reminder of the match, but the draw specialists could not get
it right this time.
After three matches, YNS have only two points from two draws and a
defeat, and might struggle to stay in Division One next season.
"We were very lucky to have walked away with three points because YNS
were the better side today (yesterday). The main problem with my team is
fitness.
"My players do not have the energy to run back in a counter-attack and
that is why we lost to Anderson Xybase on Saturday. Playing back-to-back
matches have also taken a toll and only luck handed us the three points
today (yesterday)," said a frank PJMC coach Roslan Salikon.
YNS team manager Soffian Abdullah felt like kicking the water bucket,
but kept his cool.
"The match belonged to us and PJMC gave my boys plenty of sitters to
seal the match in the first half itself. But I have an inexperienced side
and it showed today (yesterday) when they failed to win a match which they
dominated," said Soffian.
DIVISION ONE
PJ MC 2 Yayasan NS 1
DIVISION TWO
Malay Mail 4 AFATS 0; Malacca MC 7 English College 0; Perlis SSC 1 KL SSC
0; Sports School Juniors 4 Synergy HC 2.
(END)