Title favourites Tampines Rovers returned to winning ways in the Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League after dispatching Hougang United 2-0 at the Jurong West Stadium on Wednesday night.
The return of playmaker Roberto Alviz from suspension proved to be crucial as the Croatian laid on the goals for Ridhuan Muhammad and Fahrudin Mustafic respectively in each half.
After a disappointing 2-0 loss to Home United the last time out, Tampines coach V. Sundramoorthy rang five changes to his starting eleven -- bringing in reserve goalkeeper Siddiq Durimi, Aqhari Abdullah, Alviz, Ridhuan and Indra Sahdan to freshen things up for the Stags.
Meanwhile, his counterpart Salim Moin only made one change to the lineup that started against Geylang International the last time out -- bringing in attacker Takahashi Manato for Renshi Yamaguchi.
It was the Stags who had the first opportunity of the night with just three minutes on the clock when Alviz's cross picked out Firdaus Idros, but the latter was unable to turn his header on target.
Hougang tried to carve out an opening four minutes later but Matthew Abraham's shot was punched out to safety by Siddiq.
Tampines should have gone ahead via a well-worked move on 12 minutes but Aqhari failed to apply the finishing touch from three yards out.
The game was then halted in the 15th minute for about half an hour, due to the Lighting Warning System being switched on, and it was Tampines who came out stronger of the two sides.
Firdaus cut inside Faizal Amir but his resulting shot was too weak to trouble Hougang keeper Ridhuan Barudin, while Shaiful Esah's long-range effort was deflected wide.
Their persistence paid off just on the half-hour mark when Alviz floated a superb inswinging cross to leave Ridhuan with the easy task of nodding past his stranded namesake in goal.
The Cheetahs tried to muster a response just before half time with Nurhilmi's low cross creating chaos inside the box, but Shunsuke Natatake's snapshot was well blocked by a Tampines defender.
Salim decided to switch things around with the introduction of Fareez Farhan and Muhaymin Salim for the ineffective duo of Abraham and Manato. However those changes failed to make any significant impact as the home team continued to dominate possession.
Tampines put the result to bed 18 minutes from time. After Uchiyama had fouled Firdaus just outside the area, Alviz picked out Mustafic with his freekick and the latter's resulting header evaded the reach of Ridhuan.
Tampines seemingly took the pedal off their gas after that goal, allowing Hougang to come at them in the final 15 minutes. However the Cheetahs were unable to force the ball in.
Nurhilmi curled over from Muhaymin's cut-back, while Nakatake's header from Fareez's freekick was tipped over the bar by Siddiq. Francisco "Chupe" Ela then cut inside his man but his resulting shot was well parried by the Tampines custodian.
Eventually it was Tampines who saw out the win which enabled them to go top of the table. Speaking after the game, Sundram was pleased with how his side managed to eke out the win.
"We had some changes from the last game and those who came in showed that they can perform," he said. "We have a squad which is capable of challenging for places although we lacked a bit of firepower without our two foreign forwards. Alviz's return helped us because he have good vision and delivery.
"Overall it was a morale-boosting win which will help the boys to recover from last week's defeat and now we get a two-week break to recharge and work on things."
Meanwhile Salim believes his side could have gotten a result if his side had converted the chances that came their way.
"Of course I'm disappointed because we played well and created chances," he commented. "In the first half, we created a few chances and if we had scored, it would have been a different ball game. They just need to be sharper and quicker in attack.
"In the last 15 minutes, we kept coming at them and it was good to see their never-say-die spirit despite being down by two goals. This game was a good test to see how we stand as we'll take on Brunei DPMM next."
Tampines Rovers Lineup: Siddiq Durimi (GK), Ismadi Mukhtar, Eddy Viator, Predrag Pocuca, Shaiful Esah, Ridhuan Muhammad, Fahrudin Mustafic (C),Aqhari Abdullah (Fabian Kwok 77'), Roberto Alviz, Firdaus Idros (Zulfadli Zainal Abidin 83'), Indra Sahdan (Noh Alam Shah 83').
Hougang United Lineup: Ridhuan Barudin (GK), Faizal Amir, Yuki Uchiyama, Kunihiro Yamashita, Faiz Salleh, Fairoz Hasan (Kenneth Chang 83'), Shunsuke Nakatake, Nurhilmi Jasni (C), Matthew Abraham (Fareez Farhan 46'), Takahashi Manato (Muhaymin Salim 61'), Francisco Salvador Ela.