Written by: Phoon Jia Hui

Great Eastern Yeo’s Prime League leaders Home United returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Hougang United, less than a week after they were held by Warriors FC in a 3-3 draw.

Nur Hizami took his tally to five for the season as he put the Protectors in front with strikes in the fifth and 23rd minutes at Hougang Stadium before Nor Syafiq Rosli responded for the home side on the half-hour mark but it proved insufficient.

Hougang bounced back from their defeat to register their first win of the season when they beat Geylang International 2-1 in a rescheduled tie at the Bedok Stadium.

Hydhir Mohamad got his team going when he opened the scoring after 20 minutes, but Fuad Ramli equalised for the Eagles five minutes later.

With the scores tied at 1-1, Nazirul Islam had other ideas as he popped up with the winner for Hougang to move seventh in the table.

Elsewhere, defending champions Balestier Khalsa fell 4-1 to Warriors FC with Shi Jiayi and former player Suria Prakash bagging a brace each at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

Shi led the way, scoring in the opening two minutes before Ahmad Syahir pulled one back for the Tigers in the 27th minute.

However, they were helpless to prevent Warriors from adding another two through Suria who first converted from the spot in the 37th minute before he struck again in the 64th minute to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

Also putting four past their opponents were Singapore Cubs who romped to a 4-0 win over their younger counterparts, the National Football Academy (NFA) U17 at Jurong West Stadium.

Asshidiq Wahid grabbed a hat-trick for Saswadimata Dazuki’s team with Syazwan Zin also getting on the scoresheet to notch a comfortable win.

There were also wins for Tampines Rovers and Tanjong Pagar United who both recorded wins over NFA U18 and Geylang respectively.

The Stags emerged 3-1 winners at Jurong West Stadium with a first-half strike from Izzat Hamzah and a brace from skipper Cameron Bell who leads the goalscoring charts with eight goals. Jeremy Lam responded for the hosts but it was a mere consolation.

At the Queenstown Stadium, Geylang fell to goals from M Arvin and Lucas Jester as they find themselves still rooted at the bottom of the table with only one win to show for.

Week 8 Results

National Football Academy U18 1 (Jeremy Lam 66’) Tampines Rovers 3 (Izzat Hamzah 27’, Cameron Bell pen. 50’, 82’)

Tanjong Pagar United 2 (M Arvin 59’, Lucas Jester 90’) Geylang International 0

Hougang United 1 (Nor Syafiq Rosli 31’) Home United 2 (Nur Hizami 5’, 23’)

Warriors FC 4 (Shi Jiayi 1’, 2’, Suria Prakash pen. 37’, 64’) Balestier Khalsa 1 (Ahmad Syahir 27’)

Singapore Cubs 4 (Asshidiq Wahid 5’, 39’, 52’, Syazwan Zin 28’) National Football Academy U17 0

Geylang International 1 (Fuad Ramli 25’) Hougang United 2 (Hydhir Mohamad 20’, Nazirul Islam 58’)

Week 9 Fixtures

26 April (Saturday)

Tampines Rovers vs Warriors FC (Clementi Stadium, 5.00pm)

27 April (Sunday)

Woodlands Wellington vs Singapore Cubs (Woodlands Stadium, 5.00pm)

28 April (Monday)

Balestier Khalsa vs Hougang United (Toa Payoh Stadium, 7.30pm)

National Football Academy U17 vs National Football Academy U18 (Jurong West Stadium, 7.30pm)

Home United vs Tanjong Pagar United (Bishan Stadium, 7.30pm)

Suspended for Week 9: Safwan Ramlan (Geylang International)