Written by: Zack Rahim

Brunei DPMM strengthened their lead atop the Great Eastern-Yeo’s S-League to seven points after another comfortable home win on Friday night, beating Tanjong Pagar United FC 4-0 in a game that was settled seconds after the restart.

DPMM held a 2-0 lead heading into the break and the fans were still finding their seats when Roy O’ Donovan made it three goals to the good as he latched onto a cross from Azwan Ali Rahman on the left which caught the Jaguars’ defence sleeping.

Composing himself for the shot,  O’ Donovan calmly guided the ball to the right corner and there was nothing Tanjong Pagar goalkeeper Aurelien Herisson could do to save it – especially since the Irishman was just a few yards out.

It was DPMM’s seventh win in a row and they continued their stunning form at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Brunei, where they have now hit the back of the net 19 times in their last four home games and conceded only two.

O’ Donovan now has 10 S.League goals to his name while Tosi leads the team – and the league – with 11.

O’ Donovan scored the opener in the 10th minute after taking advantage of a slip by Tanjong Pagar captain Hafiz Osman in wet conditions to slot in a Hj Muhd Subhi Hj Abdillah Bakir cross from the right.

Despite the visitors getting into the game after 20 minutes by pressuring DPMM to lose possession and commit sloppy passes, Monsef Zerka’s tame shot at Wardun Yussof in the 24th minute was their only real highlight of the half.

The second goal soon came as DPMM captain Rosmin Hj Mohd Kamis delivered a superb pass from just inside his half to O’Donovan on the right. The Irishman then crossed to Rodrigo Tosi inside the box and the Brazilian out-jumped Hafiz to beat Herisson just before the break.

But it was the third goal that really knocked the wind out of the visitors’ sails, especially with it coming just after the second half kicked off.

However, DPMM’s Azwan Salleh provided the home fans with a fright when he slipped and lost the ball with Sebastien Etiemble bearing down on him.

Through on goal, his shot was saved by Wardun and the follow up from Zerka hit the side netting as the crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Tanjong Pagar did well to tighten up in defence in the second half and prevented DPMM from enjoying too much space, and it needed Shahrazen Said’s fresh legs to add to the scoreline.

The one-time poster boy of DPMM, the striker has seen playing minutes hard to come by now that O’Donovan and Tosi are guaranteed starting-11 places.

But he made his impact felt when introduced in the 88th minute,and after winning the ball in midfield, played a one-two with O’Donovan before placing the ball past Herisson.