Written by: Daryl Chin Edited by: Leung Lok Heng & Choa Zhao Xiang Photos by: EusoffWorks
Today marks the start of the handball IHG season for our female handballers. As a start to their season, they started their IHG journey with a nail-biting match against our neighbours, Temasek Hall (TH)! A sea of yellow could be seen as many supporters came down to witness this much anticipated match despite the match quite late into the evening. With their warm-up and stretching complete, our hand-babes were ready to face their opponents.
First half score: EH vs TH: 2-7
Our handballers started up with a strong lineup consisting of Weilynn in goal, Shiyi, Jess (captain), Hwee Ching, Vera, Hasya and Naomi. The match started with EH on the attack. Unfortunately, TH intercepts the ball and goes for the counterattack which was good enough to put them 1-0 up within a minute of the game. Another good play from TH sees them up 2-0. Our opponents gave a tough fight and were relentless from the very beginning. They did not stop there as they bagged another goal within minutes of their last. This was a shaky start for our girls but it is understandable given the intensity and pressure put on them. Our hand-babes finally picked up the momentum as great efforts from Shiyi and captain, Jess were saved by the TH keeper. But finally, a fine pass by Jess to Naomi brings one back for Eusoff as she finds the back of the net. 3-1! A tactical substitution was then made where IVP handballer, Shermaine was brought on to spark some inspiration in the team. Unfortunately, Naomi gets a yellow card for a foul and the referee awards a penalty over to TH which they capitalize on. A necessary timeout was then called as it was now 4-1 to TH.
The girls were now returning back to the court with Natalie being subbed in. Returning from their timeout, the girls were showing some good passes, waiting for the opportunity to strike. Hasya tries one from far but misses. Eusoff was now on the defence but a revitalized TH also put up their A-game with one of their players weaseling past our defence to score another. 5-1 now. The girls were trying their best to go on the offence, slowly but surely finding an opportunity. Shermaine sees an opening and shoots but the TH keeper saves her shot. Chance for Natalie as she comes in from the wing but the keeper saves it yet again! Another crucial opportunity for Vera as she finds herself one on one with the keeper but unluckily, her shot is saved but the keeper again. Our very own Eusoff keeper, Weilynn is definitely not to be forgotten as she denies TH again and again from their fast breaks! Albanie is subbed on for Hasya.
The score was still 5-1 with minutes from the end of the half. Vera finds herself in the D again but unfortunately hit the bar. Natalie pounces on the rebounded shot but it goes straight into the keeper. One of the TH players sends a rocket but it was saved by Weilynn’s NECK (kinda dangerous)! Living up to being a giraffe indeed!! Our handballers tried to find the net but was constantly denied by their keeper, who did a super save with her legs to deny Natalie and another save to deny Jess. More substitutions were made with Hwee Ching on for Jess and Georgia on for Naomi. Both sides showed good defence and created good opportunities but it was HASYA who found an opening, coming in from the right and slamming one back for Eusoff! 6-2! Unwavered by this, TH responds immediately, countering and making it 7-2 to end the half.
Hasya gearing up for her HUGE shot which resulted in a goal.
Second Half: EH vs TH: 3-13
The second half starts with a new lineup of Weilynn, Hwee Ching, Hasya, Shiyun, Shermaine, Georgia and Huixin. Early efforts from Georgia and Shermaine were just wide of the goal as our handballers tried to find an early goal in the second half. Weilynn also pulled out a great save to deny TH from getting another. A foul by us sees a penalty given to TH but Weilynn is there again right place right time to stop the penalty! However, constant counterattacks from TH sees them finding the back of the net. 8-2. The girls were trying their best as Vera gets past the defence only to see her shot go over the bar and Weilynn with another incredible save with her legs to save another shot. More substitutions were made with Shiyi on for Huixin and Aderes on for Shermaine. Shiyi makes an instant impact, winning a penalty after being clamped by two TH players. JESS steps up to take the penalty and puts it in the back of the net! 8-3! Weilynn pulls off a few more super saves to deny TH.
Aderes makes her handball debut.
Our opponents were unaffected by this as one of their players manages to score another to make it 9-3. A questionable decision was then made by the referee awarding a penalty to TH in which they capitalize on. TH manages to capitalized on the dampened spirits of our handballers and manages to score a few more, ending the game 13-3 in their favour.
It was definitely not a good day for our handballers but kudos to them for their valiant effort and amazing fighting spirit. Even though they were a few goals down, they did not go down without a fight and continued trying their best till the very end. Temasek may have won but our girls have won our hearts! The IHG journey is definitely not over for them as they still have future matches to come so do come down to support them in their upcoming games! Let’s go Eusoff!
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