RMM 3 Blues Brothers 3

With the Maniam League in it’s Monsoon break, RMM had hoped to arrest the momentum of it’s slide down the league with this friendly game.

Ironically, the weather held up this weekend. Low clouds and low tempretaure but no rain made the conditions perfect for a game.

The early signs however were not good as the RMM squad struggled to make up a team of 11. With only 9 players confirmed fit for the game, it looked like it was going to be another energy sapping battle for the veterans.

Things were further complicated when the pre arranged playing venue of Kampung Pandan Sports Complex was double booked with 4 teams waiting to play on 1 pitch. After much discussion and a few frantic phone calls, the match was re-scheduled to the nearby PULAPOL.

At the venue, things started to look a bit promising for RMM as exactly 11 players turned up for the game. The pitch @ PULAPOL was also deemed condusive for RMMs slick passing game.

It wasn’t 100% rosy for RMM though as the absence of several players from key positions forced another creative re-shuffle from Guvnor.

As such, the team sported a highly experimental look to it with Guvnor starting at the heart of defense for the first time in years partnering Nitro. The not fully fit Zig Zack was forced to play on the left side of defense to accommodate the one legged Snake on the right.

The quartet protected the anatomically compact, first choice keeper (by default), Shark.

The engine room was powered by Iceman and the Challenge challenged Partyman Eddie with the Master Of The Alternate Universe, Speedy running down the left flank and the mercurial Red Devil Meng on the right.

Upfront, it was the tall and short combination of Flash That providing the height and speed and Mat Burit with his guile and measured approached.

RMM started the game well and were bossing the game from the get go and the 2 travelling fans for RMM did not have to wait long for RMMs first goal. Off a storming run on the right, Red Devil Meng unleashed a swerving cross into the heart of Blues Brothers (BB) defense that forced a retreating and panicking BB defender to somehow smash the ball into the roof of his own net .

Barely 10mins into the game and RMMs highly experimental 11 were 1 goal to the good.

Things got better for the battle hardened veterans when Flash That further extended RMMs lead when he coolly finished off a pin point through pass from Nitro to make it 2 nil.

At that point, it looked like a stroll in the park for the wily veterans. The defense marshaled by Guvnor were on top of their game, playing the line far up the pitch and executing the offside traps to perfection. In the middle, the non tackling Partyman and the creative Iceman were pulling the strings with consummate ease and upfront, Flash That was causing all sorts of problems for the BB defense.

There were warning signs for RMM though. On one occasion, the BB strikers played a through ball right down the middle spring the offside trap and catching the RMM defense off guard. The ever alert Shark had to be quick off his line to put off the onrushing BB striker who still managed to release his shot. Much to the relief of RMM, the ball struck the upright. The equally alert Zig Zack then proceeded to clear the rebound.

Blues Brothers were then presented an even better opportunity to pull a goal back when the referee controversially awarded them a penalty following an incident where the BB strikers struck the ball onto Zig Zack’s arms. Standing merely a yard or 2 away from the BB striker, there was no way Zig Zack was going to avoid the ball. On top of that, his arms were not even extended.

Given that Shark had a good warm up session involving penalties and side bets, RMMers had every reason to be confident in the ensuing spot kick. That confidence was vindicated when intimidated by Shark’s extensive frame, the BB striker smacked the ball against the same upright.

2 let offs in a short span of time for RMM and that was a sign of things to come.

The half ended with RMM taking a 3 goal lead when Nitro provided yet another assist. This time, his massive clearance from the back caused havoc on the BB backline. The lurking Mat Burit, who had been asleep up until that point outpaced the BB backline to easily slot home.

That said, RMM could have finished the half with a 6 goal lead as Mat Burit, Flash That and Iceman all took turns to miss gilt edged chances.

With a comfortable lead and seemingly cruising, Guvnor decided to tinker the team bit for the second half. In unleashing Shark upfront to revive his partnership with Mat Burit, Guvnor was forced to play Speedy who was still recovering from the gaffes from previous weeks and probably in need of some rest after the arrival of his second deviant child in goal. The non tackling Partyman Eddie also swapped positions with Guvnor in a bid to add more steel to the middle of the park.

This proved to be RMMs undoing as BB struck within minutes of the restart. A hopeful shot from outside the box proved too much for Speedy. The factually challenged 2nd choice keeper argued that he was unsighted by the crowded box but there can be no argument that he was woefully out of position when the shot was struck.

With BBs No. 10 pulling the strings, RMMs lack of fitness and thin squad was exposed and things then got bad to worse for RMM as BB struck yet again minutes later.

This time, the goal was struck from close range as the BB strikeforce cut through RMMs defense like a knife through hot butter. Clearly, a non tackling defender and positionally challenged keeper was a recipe for unmigatated disaster.

With this in mind, Guvnor reverted back to defense and Partyman Eddie was moved back into the middle of the park. By this time though, the momentum had shifted to BBs favour and the boys of RMM had to dig deep again.

Slowly but surely, RMM regained some control of the game as the match swung end to end like a Premiership match.

Shark came close when he was played through by a clever through ball from Mat Burit. Springing the offside trap and with only the keeper to beat, he went for placement rather than power. Unfortunately for the part time hitman, the BB keeper’s outstretched leg got in his way.

That miss proved disastrous for RMM as BB finally managed to find their equalizer. Again, it was their No. 10 that did the damage as he easily cut through the tired RMM defence before finishing off the move.

With the score at 3 a piece, neither team looked like they were going for a draw as the action went back and forth. Unfortunately for the fans that turned out for this game, there were no more goals in the game.

When the final whistle blew, the deflated RMM boys were left to rue their luck after squandering a 3 goal lead. Whilst this draw had arrested RMMs alarming slide over the past month or so, it was no consolation for the RMM players who now must know what it feels like to be a Liverpool player.