A Division Soccer Boys Finals

+evenstar · 29th May 2006

Deja vu? A repeat of history? These thoughts went through my mind as I sat on the sidelines of the A Division Soccer Boys Finals between VJC and MJC at the Jalan Besar Stadium on the 25th of May 2006. Just like the 2005 finals, MJC got an early goal against VJC in the first half, and VJC too got a penalty against MJC.

With sheer determination to regain the title, VJ's defence line held their ground and stopped the never-ending attacks from MJC, not once or twice, but countless times and frustrated the opponents. Down 0-1 in the first half, the VJ team fought hard in the second half, with substitute Andy breaking the deadlock by scoring a dramatic equaliser when his shot got a deflection off a MJ defencer and lobbed the MJ keeper from 30 metres out to make it 1-1.

It wasn't long before the MJC side managed to find a loophole through the sloppy VJ defence, and the opposition strikers made full use of the opportunity to put MJ ahead 1-2. It was silent for a while before VJC got a free kick at the edge of the box. The free kick was knocked into the six-yard box, and met with a header from our strikers. In a moment of haste, the MJ defender on the goal line raised his hands and used it to block the goalward bound ball, and that instantly got him the walking orders from the ref.

Up stepped Keefe to take the spot kick, but the shot was weak and it went straight into the arms of the opposition keeper who had little difficulty keeping it out of the net. The dejected captain was giving comfort by the VJ fans who shouted, "Fight on VJ, fight on!"

It's often said that "if we shoot, there's a 50-50 chance that we might score". True enough, after countless shots by the VJ offense, Justin eventually found himself in the clear inside the penalty box from a pass by Andy, and he made no mistake in sending the ball where it should be -- at the back of the net. VJC 2 - 2 MJC

Things got better for the Victorian side as we approached the last 15 minutes of the game. The team were more focused after the equaliser, and played better as a team. Before I knew it, VJC was awarded another corner kick. Time seemed to slow down for me, as I saw the ball whipped cunningly into the centre of the six-yard box by John. Brandon's head was seen rising above the crowd of defenders, and the ball was knocked into the net. VJC 3-2 MJC

5 minutes later, a corner kick was awarded to the MJ team. A dangerous low ball was whipped into the penalty box, only to be cleared away by a spectacular diving header by our skipper. Out of nowhere, John was on the ball before the MJ midfielders could react, and before anyone knew what was going on, John was on a one-on-one with the MJ keeper, bypassing almost 4 defenders. With a cunning flick, the MJ keeper was sent the wrong way while John dribbled the ball into an empty net before gently tapping the ball in. VJC 4-2 MJC

A faithful VJ supporter

+evenstar · 29th May 2006

From the celebrations:

Tears of joy

The cup is OURS!!

Victoria Thy Sons are We and We will not Forget

+evenstar · 29th May 2006

Constructive C&C welcome

szekiat · 29th May 2006

i'm sure we'd all love to see more action and more crunching tackles. Also, for the goal shot, would have been good if u could go in closer to see the expressions. Too much empty space. Great coverage of the celebrations after on, but as far as sports action goes, its a bit lacking...

+evenstar · 29th May 2006

noted..i realised that mistake after the match. the match was so intense that i forgot to shoot most of the shots, but was watching the game. (we went from 1-2 down to 4-2 in the last 10minutes of the match)

szekiat · 29th May 2006

haha...no. 1 sin of a sports photographer. Cover the event, NOT WATCH THE GAME

sehsuan · 30th May 2006

This must be the best attempt you'd done so far. Congrats.

1. This shot hasn't been sharpened to bring out the subtle details yet. Compared to the rest, this looks really soft.

2. Too wide, just like what szekiat said. One phrase that comes to mind, "I see everything, but I see nothing."

3. The chap looks like he's got decapitated, honestly.

Since you didn't number the rest of the shots...

The shot of the half-crying, half-YEAH! player with the group in the background is good. Can finally sense the feeling of elation from your photo.

Just watch out when shooting reflective items, see if it's possible to leave yourself out of the reflections, though it's pretty tricky to do so.

As for the other shots, they're not exactly self-explanatory; can't really differentiate them from snapshots.

Good, keep up the good work.

solarii · 30th May 2006

Originally Posted by +evenstar

noted..i realised that mistake after the match. the match was so intense that i forgot to shoot most of the shots, but was watching the game. (we went from 1-2 down to 4-2 in the last 10minutes of the match)

Don't worry too much about shooting... watch the game, enjoy the atmosphere. Shoot later. You cannot relive the excitement afterwards.... and when u "think" like a photographer and concentrate on shooting, you cannot enjoy the match.

At least vj won this yr. In my year they lost on penalty kicks to pj.... so disappointing... You must be grateful that they won when u went... u only get 2 chances to soak in the atmosphere... after u "ORD" its no longer the same when u go back to support...

szekiat · 30th May 2006

Originally Posted by solarii

Don't worry too much about shooting... watch the game, enjoy the atmosphere. Shoot later. You cannot relive the excitement afterwards.... and when u "think" like a photographer and concentrate on shooting, you cannot enjoy the match.

At least vj won this yr. In my year they lost on penalty kicks to pj.... so disappointing... You must be grateful that they won when u went... u only get 2 chances to soak in the atmosphere... after u "ORD" its no longer the same when u go back to support...

it really depends on your brief though. If you had been representing the school as an official photog, they might be depending on you to chronicle the amazing victory. It would have been disastrous, not to mention a disappointment to them, if you had instead be caught ball watching....

+evenstar · 30th May 2006

i was lucky not to be scolded for ball watching, as my teacher in charge told me the next day that "the celebration shots are more important"..*phew*

29th May 2006	#1
+evenstar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 5,453	A Division Soccer Boys Finals Deja vu? A repeat of history? These thoughts went through my mind as I sat on the sidelines of the A Division Soccer Boys Finals between VJC and MJC at the Jalan Besar Stadium on the 25th of May 2006. Just like the 2005 finals, MJC got an early goal against VJC in the first half, and VJC too got a penalty against MJC. With sheer determination to regain the title, VJ's defence line held their ground and stopped the never-ending attacks from MJC, not once or twice, but countless times and frustrated the opponents. Down 0-1 in the first half, the VJ team fought hard in the second half, with substitute Andy breaking the deadlock by scoring a dramatic equaliser when his shot got a deflection off a MJ defencer and lobbed the MJ keeper from 30 metres out to make it 1-1. It wasn't long before the MJC side managed to find a loophole through the sloppy VJ defence, and the opposition strikers made full use of the opportunity to put MJ ahead 1-2. It was silent for a while before VJC got a free kick at the edge of the box. The free kick was knocked into the six-yard box, and met with a header from our strikers. In a moment of haste, the MJ defender on the goal line raised his hands and used it to block the goalward bound ball, and that instantly got him the walking orders from the ref. Up stepped Keefe to take the spot kick, but the shot was weak and it went straight into the arms of the opposition keeper who had little difficulty keeping it out of the net. The dejected captain was giving comfort by the VJ fans who shouted, "Fight on VJ, fight on!" It's often said that "if we shoot, there's a 50-50 chance that we might score". True enough, after countless shots by the VJ offense, Justin eventually found himself in the clear inside the penalty box from a pass by Andy, and he made no mistake in sending the ball where it should be -- at the back of the net. VJC 2 - 2 MJC Things got better for the Victorian side as we approached the last 15 minutes of the game. The team were more focused after the equaliser, and played better as a team. Before I knew it, VJC was awarded another corner kick. Time seemed to slow down for me, as I saw the ball whipped cunningly into the centre of the six-yard box by John. Brandon's head was seen rising above the crowd of defenders, and the ball was knocked into the net. VJC 3-2 MJC 5 minutes later, a corner kick was awarded to the MJ team. A dangerous low ball was whipped into the penalty box, only to be cleared away by a spectacular diving header by our skipper. Out of nowhere, John was on the ball before the MJ midfielders could react, and before anyone knew what was going on, John was on a one-on-one with the MJ keeper, bypassing almost 4 defenders. With a cunning flick, the MJ keeper was sent the wrong way while John dribbled the ball into an empty net before gently tapping the ball in. VJC 4-2 MJC A faithful VJ supporter __________________ the SEARCH FUNCTION is there for a reason. USE IT! Last edited by +evenstar; 29th May 2006 at 04:20 PM.

29th May 2006	#2
+evenstar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 5,453	Re: A Division Soccer Boys Finals From the celebrations: Tears of joy The cup is OURS!! Victoria Thy Sons are We and We will not Forget __________________ the SEARCH FUNCTION is there for a reason. USE IT!

29th May 2006	#3
+evenstar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 5,453	Re: A Division Soccer Boys Finals Constructive C&C welcome __________________ the SEARCH FUNCTION is there for a reason. USE IT! Last edited by +evenstar; 29th May 2006 at 04:20 PM.

29th May 2006	#4
szekiat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 2,378	Re: A Division Soccer Boys Finals i'm sure we'd all love to see more action and more crunching tackles. Also, for the goal shot, would have been good if u could go in closer to see the expressions. Too much empty space. Great coverage of the celebrations after on, but as far as sports action goes, its a bit lacking...

29th May 2006	#5
+evenstar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 5,453	Re: A Division Soccer Boys Finals noted..i realised that mistake after the match. the match was so intense that i forgot to shoot most of the shots, but was watching the game. (we went from 1-2 down to 4-2 in the last 10minutes of the match) __________________ the SEARCH FUNCTION is there for a reason. USE IT!

29th May 2006	#6
szekiat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 2,378	Re: A Division Soccer Boys Finals haha...no. 1 sin of a sports photographer. Cover the event, NOT WATCH THE GAME

30th May 2006	#7
sehsuan Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 6,674	Re: A Division Soccer Boys Finals This must be the best attempt you'd done so far. Congrats. 1. This shot hasn't been sharpened to bring out the subtle details yet. Compared to the rest, this looks really soft. 2. Too wide, just like what szekiat said. One phrase that comes to mind, "I see everything, but I see nothing." 3. The chap looks like he's got decapitated, honestly. Since you didn't number the rest of the shots... The shot of the half-crying, half-YEAH! player with the group in the background is good. Can finally sense the feeling of elation from your photo. Just watch out when shooting reflective items, see if it's possible to leave yourself out of the reflections, though it's pretty tricky to do so. As for the other shots, they're not exactly self-explanatory; can't really differentiate them from snapshots. Good, keep up the good work.