Written by: Khalis Rifhan

Warriors FC failed to overtake Brunei DPMM at the top of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League table after only mustering a 1-1 draw with Balestier Khalsa.

That result allowed the Warriors to go level on points with the league leaders, but they still sat in second place due to a poorer goal difference.

Despite failing to register maximum points, Warriors coach Alex Weaver was still confident that his team was capable of reaching the summit to challenge for the league’s title.

“Yes, it is annoying,” commented Weaver after their match against the Tigers.

“But we are giving it our best shot, trying very hard. We’ll keep going as it it very close up there right now. It probably will go down to the wire.

“It is going to be very close. Great for the league as it can be very competitive. I am glad we are still up there and we will give everything that we got,” added the Warriors’ tactician.

Although the eight-time S.League champions were missing their top scorers, Miroslav Pejic and Nicholas Velez through suspension, Weaver was pleased with Shi Jiayi and Hafiz Rahim performance against Marko Kraljevic’s side.

“We did really well overall. Jiayi and Hafiz did caused problem. You are going to feel it when you take out a couple of players like Pejic and Nico,” explained the former Stoke City academy coach.

“Jiayi has come in and he has played in many different position this year. We got speed and creativity out wide. We had a solid midfield and the performance was very good.”

It was understandable that the usually talkative and cheerful Kraljevic was not in the mood for a long post-match interview as his charges failed to capitalise on the numerous chances they had on goal after the interval.

“It is a different game. They attack and we counter, now we attack and they counter,” said Kraljevic referring to their 3-1 win over Warriors in the RHB Singapore Cup preliminary round.

“Frist half was not good, we did not play well and our ball movement was very slow.

“Second half we come back very strongly and equalised. We had two or three chances and we should have finish the game,” added Kraljevic.

Kraljevic insisted that his side should have snatch three points from the match.

“If it is 1-1 in the first half, I will be very happy. But the second half, I feel we should win the game.

“I am happy with the performance but not the results,” explained the former Woodlands Wellington Prime League coach.