Weather wreaks havoc at Jalan Besar

Source

Paul Green
info@sleague.com

Lightning really does strike twice in the same place. Just ask officials and players from the Courts Young Lions and Woodlands Wellington.

They turned up at five in the evening, for the second day running at Jalan Besar Stadium, for their Great Eastern-YEO’S S.League match, which had been abandoned the previous day after play had been stopped by storm activity at half-time.

The storm never abated in time for play to recommence on the Saturday, and many were hoping things might turn out a little better at the second attempt.

On Sunday afternoon the storm may have returned, but not with as much intensity as it brought with it on the Saturday, yet the attendant rain was much more severe and made it impossible to play beyond 22 minutes with all the will in the world.

Rain continued to fall heavily for the next hour at least, and with the pitch waterlogged by then it made little difference that the storm had been much milder and less dangerous than it had been the previous day since the pitch was unplayable even by 6.30pm.

It had been so dark at kickoff time that the lights had to be turned on very early in the game, but once again, as had been the case on the Saturday, neither side could score, or indeed really threaten the opposing keeper.

A good run down the right in the sixth minute by Nazrul Ahmad Nazari presented captain Hariss Harun with a close-range shooting opportunity, but Rams defender Mounier Raychouni got his body in the way to block the shot with his back and the danger passed.

At the other end Woodlands had nothing to show for their endeavours either, as defender Graham Tatters struck an effort from well outside the penalty area that easily sailed over the bar.

Both coaches made minor changes from their starting elevens the previous day, with the Young Lions starting Shahfiq Ghani instead of keeping him on the bench, while Woodlands mentor R. Balasubramaniam included defender Adrian Butters and relegated Brazilian striker Leonardo Alexio da Costa to their substitutes’ bench in his place.

Referee Ahmad A’qashah had the unenviable task of whistling for proceedings to be brought to a halt an hour after he had led the players off the field for the second time in 24 hours.

This is the third time a Woodlands game has been abandoned now this season, their home game with Tampines Rovers having to be abandoned midway through the first half as well.

Remarkably, that game was completed at the second attempt only days before the Rams’ trip to Jalan Besar.