Super-sub Yan Ting is Bowen's inspiration
Revenge is sweet as school also claim individual honours
They suffered heartbreak last year when they lost the National B Division girls' football final on penalties to Queensway Secondary School.
The Bowen Secondary School team had their chance for revenge yesterday and made no mistake, securing a 2-0 win to spark off wild celebrations on the field and in the stands at the Serangoon Stadium.
Once again, Bowen's super-sub Ong Yan Ting played a key role in the outcome.
Highly regarded but consistently coming off the bench because of concerns over her fitness, Bowen coach Yeong Sheau Shyan turned to Yan Ting soon after the break with the final deadlocked and, 10 minutes later, the 16-year-old delivered.
In the 60th minute, Yan Ting stayed calm in a scramble to slot home and send Bowen on their way to victory.
The strike added to her incredible goals tally, making it 22 in seven matches.
Two minutes later, while their opponents were still reeling, she provided the assist for captain Riddle Reneelyn Sison to score and seal the win.
Speaking to The New Paper after the win, Yan Ting, who easily bagged the Top Scorer's award, said: "I think I personally did well but, as a team, we did great.
"I didn't expect to get this award and it's because of my teammates.
"The whole team did very well and I'm proud of every single one of them."
Bowen claimed the top two individual awards when midfielder Mira Ruzana Seherzan, who made the team's engine room hum all season, was crowned Most Valuable Player in the division.
"There was a lot of competition from other schools and they played well," said Mira, 15.
STEPPING UP
"The younger players did very well. I am so proud of them.
"We (juniors) just went all out in the final match because we wanted to do it for our seniors."
Team coach Yeong Sheau Shyan praised Yan Ting and fellow substitute right winger Natasha Azhar, who also did well after coming on.
"Due to their fitness, we used them as an impact players rather than starting them and the strategy clearly worked," Yeong said.
Yan Ting and Reneelyn are two of the 14 in the 20-strong Bowen B Division squad that will be graduating this year.
They have got big shoes to fill, but Reneelyn said: "I'm quite confident that my juniors will be able to retain the title once again next year."
Mira, who will be a senior member of the team next year, simply said: "With power, anything can be done."
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