RMM 5 Tiger FC 3

20th December

The early signs were not good for RMM as the rapidly ageing veterans (whom many have adopted the motto - 40s is the new 30s) found that the fixture was at one of their least favorite grounds, Stadium Raja Muda with its huge pitch with one of their bogey teams, Tiger FC.

There were some positive points however, as the turnout for the team was good, giving the Guvnor more options and the further inspection on Tiger FCs team sheet also revealed many new players.

The game started well for RMMs wily veterans as the team’s young superstar with the playboy lifestyle, Batigol turned his marker to unleash a powerful shot to the top right hand corner with his right leg after receiving a pass from Guvnor just outside the penalty box. Given his considerable girth, the turn was phenomenal to say the least.

RMMs lead did not last long as Tiger FC (TFC) leveled the score with a powerful free kick from just outside the box after Hardman Joe stumbled and fouled a TFC striker. The resident hothead tried to redeem himself by guarding the far post but was further embarrassed when the ensuing freekick thundered in just inches above his head whilst he had his eyes closed.

RMM managed to take the lead again as the on-form Superstar Batigol dispossessed TFCs leftback and ‘sprinted’ down the right flank like a mad bull elephant in heat before squaring the ball to the lurking Mat Burit. The Chrome Domed Hitman touch was too heavy and it gave the TFC keeper the opportunity to close the angles. Mat Burit however still managed a shot in which the TFC keeper unwittingly parried into the path off a back pedaling defender before rebounding into the goal for a fortuitous own goal.

The halftime score was at 2-1 and RMM were good value for that lead.

The age challenged RMMers then went 3-1 up at the start of the second half when the desperately in need of confidence Mat Burit finally scored after a scramble in TFC's penalty box. TFC’s keeper had managed to get a hand to the ball but was unable to stop it from nestling in the far right hand corner.

TFC then pulled a goal back to make the score 3-2 when a harmless cross from the left dropped just in front of Spiderman Speedy, RMMs second half keeper. True to form, the Master Of The Alternate Universe hesitated and it gave the lurking TFC striker an easy chance to slot the ball into an open goal.

RMM regained its 2 goal lead when Superstar Batigol floated a free kick into the opponent's penalty box towards RMMs battering ram and King Of Headers, Guvnor. The freekick had initially looked like it was not accurate enough as it was out of Guvnor’s despairing dive. As it turned out, the kicked was actually perfectly disguised as the ball bounced into the net unhindered. Pundits revealed later during the final game analysis that the real ‘trickery’ behind the set piece was Shark’s 50 yard dash towards Superstar Batigol in the run up to the kick that confused everyone.

With the score at 4-2, RMM then gave TFC another lifeline went off a corner, TFC managed a weak header towards the goal. Unfortunately for RMM, it was directed at the outrageously tall Shark at the far post. Needless to say, the giant part time keeper only managed to head the ball off the post into his own goal to make the score 4-3.

Shark then almost made amends for it when he latched on to a slightly overhit through ball from Superstar Batigol to power in a shot from a narrow angle. Unfortunately for the once feared predator, the TFC goalkeeper was up to the task and managed to parry the ball away for a corner.

The game was finally settled with when the circling Shark scored the final goal of the game. Blindman Poon, who had been creating havoc throughout the game and drawing fouls and yellow cards for TFC, marauded down the left flank to rake in a telling pass for Shark to slot in with a cool finish.

The full time score was 5-3 as RMM slayed the demons of the bogey pitch and opponents with a single sword on a balmy evening on a sodden pitch.