By Song Sung Hai

Queenstown Stadium played host to its last S.League game of the season with aplomb as the Jaguars ran out deserving 1-0 winners over the Woodlands Rams in a game the Jaguars could have easily won with a bigger margin. There was also a fanzone set up just outside the Jagstore which was warmly received by the fans present and manned by volunteers from Singapore Polytechnic.

It did not take long for the Jaguars to start piling the pressure onto the visitors with Sebastien Etiemble teaming up well with impressive youngster Afiq Tan and Firdaus Idros in attack. Firdaus himself came close in the 13th minute but his header flashed wide of the post.

There were several other chances, including one where Hafiz Osman had a goal dubiously ruled out for offside. Not long after, in the 26th minute Kamel Ramdani worked well with Sebastien Etiemble to release the latter down the flanks. Kamel received the return pass in the box but with only the goalie to beat, Kamel sent the ball over the bar with his weaker right foot.

The ever so lethal forward Monsef Zerka also came close in the 37th minute when he read Kamel’s cross perfectly but could only head the ball straight into the arms of the Woodlands goalie.

Monsef was not to be denied though and it was a display of audacious skill in the 58th minute which separated the two sides. The Rams’ custodian had only been able to push the ball away to prevent Firdaus Idros from getting to it but the energetic Afiq Tan got to it instead. Rounding the goalie comfortably, Afiq sidestepped a defender and sent the ball towards Monsef Zerka who hooked the ball into the top left corner of goal with a single flick.

Afiq Tan almost turned provider again in the 65th minute when the youngster, growing in confidence with every single minute, showed flair to evade his marker and made an industrious run into the box. He spotted Sebastien and the pass was perfect. Sebastien, however, could only slam the ball into a defender.

Sebastien had two more chances in the 74th and 93rd minute but could not capitalise. He did everything right on the night but just could not score.

A makeshift defence saw captain Ahmad Latiff partnering Hafiz Osman at the back and the experienced duo were hardly troubled by the Woodlands forwards especially after the Rams’ Shahril Alias got sent off late in the game.

Marcus Wheeler showed great promise as well as he asserted himself physically into the game to hold his ground against his frustrated opponents. Asraf Rashid and Nor Azli Yusoff were also unbeatable down the flanks which added further misery to the Rams’ attacking woes.

Head Coach Patrick Vallée expressed happiness at his team’s second successive win despite missing several senior players.

He added, “It is a pleasure to see how the team fought hard to win and in a good way too. At the end, they played without pressure and according to the way we want to play. We took time to score the winning goal but we deserve to win tonight.”

Patrick was also heartened to see the Prime League players performing well and guided superbly by their seniors on the pitch.

“Everybody on the pitch worked well together and I was glad to see the way they managed the game, “ he continued. “They played hard to win the game for each other and for the club.”