Mellon Smashed
Martin Makes Mark
Grilled didn't let their loss to Rajah affect them overly, and focused their full attentions on the trip to MellonUtd Bulldog Arena, where the home side hoped to turn the wet surface to their advantage.
Their strategy frustrated Grilled's more creative players early on, with Darong getting a face full of mud when he tried to brake suddenly in a puddle. New signing
Martin Torsson was a handful at left wing, though, and his attempted cross might well have floated into the goal after fifteen minutes.
Mellon got a lucky break seconds later, with the ball stopping kindly for forward Mah Chee Da, but the erstwhile taxi driver stroked it tamely into the side netting. It was then the turn of Subri and Rotteveel to show how the professionals do it, as they stepped up a gear and made it two-nil.
It would come to five before half-time, as the hosts' resolve crumbled.
Nawaz Talib was alert to a shoddy square pass to nip in and make it three, before Branbilla blasted the fourth, and Rotteveel outdid that with a pinpoint grounder two minutes before the interval.
While Han Kok, who became the first Grilled player to have 300 competitive appearances for the club today, got his share of cheers for his goal, the loudest of all were reserved for
Martin Torsson's maiden goal, which was some time in coming. He will look back at his stylish feinting and delicate chip with pride, when the match is over.
A slip mixed with madness by Talib sent him heavily into Mah, who appeared to be hurt badly despite the Pakistani's attempts to pull out. A yellow card was more or less what he deserved for the part-accident. There was nothing accidental about Rotteveel's calm finish in the 84th minute, though, which completed his hattrick, and quite amazingly, his tenth goal of the three-game old season.
Subri and Quah then made it ten to nothing, completing yet another fulfilling Cup victory in the best traditions of the club.