Tze Ern powered ARFC to victory

After a 3-week hiatus, ARFC played a friendly match against Eastburns at the Bedok Green SS artificial pitch in front of 77,777 fans that included Elvis’ latest wife and usual supporter, Anna.

ARFC was boosted by the sudden appearance of Khim while Derrick also made a last-minute appearance after inking a $7 million renovation contract with a local MNC.

As ARFC did not have a proper keeper, Darren gamely volunteered to be one.

ARFC started with this 4-5-1 line-up:

Keeper: Unbeatable Darren
Right-back: Marauding Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis (captain)
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Unpredictable Blackburn
Right-mid: Long-throw specialist Norman
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Steely Tze Ern (captain)
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Talisman Derrick
Striker: Powerful Alvin

Subs:

Sublime Khim
Speedy Hee (only arrived at half-time)
Wayne
Yoong
Jason (Alvin’s friend)

All ARFC warriors were itching to play and it showed from the renewed fire in their bellies. Right from the start go, ARFC warriors showed some very good passing and totally dominated the opening exchanges.

Hence, it was no surprise when ARFC took the lead in the 10th min. Their defender needlessly handled a long high ball and the referee awarded a free-kick about 27 metres from goal. For the 2nd successive match, Sebastian stood over the ball, took aim, breathed for 7 seconds and duly and fiercely side-footed the ball low round the wall and although their keeper got a touch, the velocity of the ball proved too much as their keeper was unable to keep the ball out. This was Sebastian’s 76th ARFC goal. 1-0

However, ARFC turned careless and conceded a goal. 1-1.

Alvin had a chance to restore ARFC’s lead after Sebastian’s no-look reverse through pass sent him galloping away. However, Alvin was thwarted by their on-rushing keeper who kept his shot out.

ARFC restored its lead in the 27th min. Off a free-kick taken by Sebastian who hit the ball into the danger zone between the keeper and the 6-yard line, who else but Toh dashed in and connected with what else but his world-renowned fore-head to plant the ball beyond the reach of their keeper for his 43rd ARFC goal. 2-1.

Khim then replaced Norman and scored with his first touch! Derrick did very well by executing an overhead kick into the penalty box. Khim made a clever run into the box and before their keeper could reach the bouncing ball, Khim looped the ball over him with his head for his 45th ARFC goal.3-1 and what a cleverly-taken goal.

The opposing defence appealed for an off-side but the referee correctly brushed their appeals aside as Khim had come in from deep.

By now, ARFC was firing in all cylinders. After some clever work, Derrick found himself with space on the right. Without much hesitation, he let fly a rising shot that just flashed past the far post by 0.77 mm. Unlucky!

Guoxiong also found acres of space down the right flank but his various deliveries were not met. Blackburn also tried his luck with several long shots from his half!

Toh then sportingly made way for Wayne while Yoong took over from Soon.

In the 2nd half, Derrick sportingly become the keeper and gives Darren a chance to play at left-back. Hee also replaced Alvin, Jason took over Derrick’s right-wing position while Blackburn replaced Sebastian at centre-mid.

The 2nd half began in exactly the same fashion as the first with ARFC still dominating. From a quick counter-attack in the 47th min, Yoong made space for himself at the left before unleashing a venomous stiff grounder that took a wicked deflection off their defender to wrong-foot their keeper for his 9th ARFC goal. 4-1 now.

The opponent then pulled a goal back. 4-2.

Toh restored ARFC’s 3-goal advantage in the 77th min. Alvin’s precise corner from the left was floated in very high and over their defence to the far post. The ball looked to have reached beyond Toh but he took about 2-3 steps back and summoning all his 777 neck muscles, he thumped in a header (what else?) back to the near post area and although the covering defender tried to clear, the header proved too powerful. 5-3 and this was Toh’s 44th ARFC goal (I think about 40 goals were from headers) and a goal that Alan Shearer or Olivier Bierhoff would be very proud of!

The opponent scored a goal back. 5-3.

Man-of-the-match is undoubtedly Tze Ern who really gave a lion-hearted display in the centre of the field and reveled in his captain’s role.