In a see-saw match at ITE Balestier, the aging but experienced ARFC overcome a very youthful, speedy and hard-running team made up of mostly NS boys and ex-Prime League players 4-3 in front of the capacity crowd of 77,777.
Prior to kick-off, reliable David Mak (father of Marco Mak) announced his withdrawal due to his son Marco Mak’s high fever. Powerful Alvin also had swollen ankle like a pig’s trotter and thus could not make it. As a result, youth prodigy from Rendezvous FC, Zongzi was called up as guest player. ARFC also received a last-minute boost when used-to-be-speedy right-back Boon rushed back from a private cruise to join the team.
As dependable Jinzhong was away on work commitment, unpredictable Blackburn was in goal, with astute-reading sweeper Elvis back, Towering Toh, determined Huiming as left-back and used-to-be speedy right-back Boon at, where-else but right-back. Entrepreneur Guoxiong and hard-working Tong were at right and left mid respectively, and influential Sebastiano and hard-man Tjioe in the middle. ARFC scoring legend Haron and Speedy Hee were the forwards. Zongzi was the only sub.
The opponent impressed with their movement and passing that had ARFC back-pedalling. However, ARFC’s impressive defence held firm and kept them at bay. The opponent also committed so many dirty fouls in the opening minutes that irked the ARFC warriors. Fortunately, the referee was firm and kept the match under control with his excellent handling.
In the 17th min, ARFC won a free-kick just outside the right-hand side of their penalty box. Influential Sebastiano stepped up, looked up, saw ARFC scoring legend Haron’s signalling and delivered an exquisite ball over their keeper for ARFC scoring legend Haron to come in from blind side and thumped in a header to open the scoring. This was his 110th ARFC goal.
ARFC increased their lead in the 27th min. A quick one-two between influential Sebastiano and ARFC scoring legend Haron freed the former down the right flank. Wanting to square the ball back to the on-rushing hard-working Tong in the box, influential Sebastiano miskicked and the ball bounced up to the touch-line. However, their defender tried to clear the ball but succeeded to kick the ball to influential Sebastiano’s head and the ball ricocheted to hard-working Tong was who in the box. Instinctively, he pushed the ball into the net giving their keeper no chance at all. This was hard-working Tong’s 14th ARFC goal. His last goal for ARFC was on 07 May 2006 at Blk 367 Yishun Ring Road field when ARFC won 5-2 against Tjioe’s friends.
7 minutes before the half-time, their opponent pulled a goal back after hard-working Tong inexplicably headed their corner ball into his own net. Unlucky!!!
The score was 2-1 at half-time. Fortunately, powerful Alvin arrived to add another player to the team.
In the 57th min, the opponent drew level after unpredictable Blackburn, who is playing at left-midfield with Boon in goal, failed to close down their winger who unleashed a shot that trickled under the body of Boon. 2-2 now.
ARFC then had a great chance to pull ahead once more. However, powerful Alvin’s goal was correctly ruled off-side.
Boon then pulled off at least 2 world-class saves that kept ARFC in the game. Nevertheless, off a corner in the 67th min, their player out-jumped hard-man Tjioe to put his team 3-2 ahead. At this juncture, ARFC looked dead and buried.
7 minutes later, ARFC drew level. Influential Sebastiano, who just returned to the pitch after his “lao-sai”, spotted ARFC scoring legend just outside the box and passed the ball to him. He eluded 2 defenders to face their keeper one-to-one. Of course, with his pedigree, how could he miss and he obliged by side-footing the ball home for the equalizer. 3-3!!
Another 7 minutes later, unpredictable Blackburn executed a world-class cross-field ball to the lurking powerful Alvin. Hearing a shout from Speedy Hee for the bal, powerful Alvin moved away and Speedy Hee took over. Pushing the ball into the penalty box and closed down by their defender, Speedy Hee showed the crowd and the live telecast audience why he has such a nickname by out-pacing him and chipped the ball over their keeper for what eventually turned out to be the winning goal. 4-3 and this was Speedy Hee’s 46th ARFC goal and ARFC’s 720th goal.
A short while later came the block of the match and possible the season. Their tricky midfielder, after turning astute-reading sweeper Elvis, was about to pull the trigger when out of nowhere, hard-working Tong gave a Jamie Carragher type of block to deny him a potential goal. World class!!!
7 minutes before the end, powerful Alvin had a glorious chance to bury the match. After their player was sent off for a second bookable offence, influential Sebastiano winked at powerful Alvin and proceeded to deliver a slide-rule pass. However, powerful Alvin’s first effort hit the post and off the rebound, his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line. Unlucky!!!
When the referee blew the final whistle for ARFC’s 123rd ever victory, almost all the aging ARFC warriors fell to the ground due to cramps as they were severely stretched by the youthful opponent. But, as the saying goes, “Old is Gold” and ARFC once again lived up to its reputation.
Both stand-in keeper, unpredictable Blackburn and used-to-be-speedy right-back Boon played excellently with their blocks and reading of the ball which saw them rushed off their line to clear off several dangerous balls. Astute-reading sweeper Elvis, despite being disadvantaged by his lack of speed, used his experience so well that their forward did not even get past him once. Towering Toh, of course, was once again unbeatable in the air and he was also a big block against the opponent. Determined Huiming, despite suffering a knock early in the game, soldiered on and even about more than 10 years older than their speedy winger, did not lose out in the duels once. Used-to-be-speedy right-back Boon, lasting all of about 20 minutes at right-back, came up with several critical interceptions. Entrepreneur Guoxiong, adapted well at both right-back and right-midfield, covered the defence well and also made several forays down the right-flank.
Hard-working Tong was industrious and scored a goal after many months. Hard-man Tjioe’s presence was crucial with his strength and aggression and continuously closed down opponents with his hard-tackling. He also won many fouls. Speedy Hee was also impressive with his speed and his winning goal was classic example of his speed. Besides that, he also tracked back on many occasions in the first-half. Unpredictable Blackburn was, well unpredictable. Too often guilty with several “ambulance balls” to his team-mates, he nevertheless was the provider of the winning goal with his Xabi Alonso type of ball in the build-up to the winning goal.
This leaves me with ARFC scoring legend Haron, who was voted Man-of-the-Match by John Dykes and also NOKIA score-board. Besides his natural predatory instincts, he also tracked back in the second-half when ARFC was under heavy pressure. Positioned himself in the midfield, his presence eased the burden of hard-man Tjioe and influential Sebastiano, both of whom were clearly tiring.
