Lion's Heart... and almost a lion's share

The Penang Open Challenge has come and gone. Primary purpose of participating, as put down before, was to expose the players AND to show off their impressive Nike jerseys (if not the only reason).

Sharron Tan (GK)

Line 1:
Khor Kuan Yang

Kew Pei Li

Mekananth

Por K Yan

Line 2:
Jason Chan

San Jeevan
Joshua

Alice Ong

Subs:
Christopher Anand

Ilaiye Pumaren

Goekula Kannan

The first game did more than expose-- it geared the team up for what they all knew would be a tough day. Up against the Subang Rascals, boasting the likes of Sasi and co., Frontliners did okay (in fact they did quite well for a warm-up match) and only lost by a mere seven goals :)

Along with the next game came the Dalat Moldy Oldies. One up to Frontliners in no time thanks to Joshua, but they let in two successive goals before the Game Over. 2-1, then, to the Dalat team. Not bad, really... after the generous first game's scoreline.

Come the third game, Frontliners changed into their white strip and trooped out against Salibandy! Co. Better organized and prepared, Frontliners again drew first blood after some slick teamwork between Joshua and Jason. Drawing level soon after and going ahead after a bad call by the ref (in view of the threat of floorball hooligans, the club has decided not to release his name;), with time running out, it looked like the team was doomed to their third straight defeat... when out of nothing, Jason decided to have a whack at goal inside his own half. Somehow, just somehow, the ball managed to find its way into the net. Frontliners 2-2 Salibandy! Co.The scoreline says it all (though methinks Jason wouldn't mind adding a few words...)

Revved up, the Frontliners engine did not lose any speed against their next opponents, Innebandy! Co and were unfortunate to be undone by an opportunistic strike from Mr. Daniel.

Up against familiar faces from Contact, the team lined up against them with the 8-3 mauling a month ago still fresh in their minds. Both teams did well and played to a one-all draw, but Kuan Yang missed an oh-so-glorious opportunity to garner a win for Frontliners after some good work by the Contact goalie. Later on, a Contact player acknowledged that the team had improved much since the friendly.

The players, apparently, had saved their best and also their tempers for last. Playing against the second Dalat team, Frontliners was showered with two minutes(es?) with goals during those periods rubbing in some extra salt.

All the players deserve to be commended for their performance, some more than others (though as Mr. Jason says, there is no 'i' in team, so...), holding the tag of underdogs but not walkovers. And although there will be no nasi kandar water this time (Note: you should be able to guess who's writing this report by now), the club has announced to all of Penang that for the Frontliners Floorball Club, the best is yet to come.