Playing for the first time in the month of March, ARFC eked out a scrappy 4-3 win over an enthusiastic young team from the Singapore Khalsa Association.
Strangely enough, both halves were played under rainy condition and the rain somehow took a breather during the half-time break and after the match!
ARFC received huge boosts when players like Ron, Sebastian, Toh, Haron and Darren all made unexpected appearances. Seh Meng also agreed to help out.
Derrick was appointed captain in front of his watching sister-in-law, her son, and his own son Rayes.
Special mention to Wayne and Ron respectively for volunteering as keeper for each half.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Wonder Wayne
Right-back: Combative Ron
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Unpredictable Blackburn
Right-mid: Talisman Derrick (captain)
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Left-mid: Speedy Hee
Striker: Powerful Alvin
Striker: ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Subs:
Hard-man Tjioe
Unbeatable Darren (slightly late)
Steely Tze Ern (slightly late)
Seh Meng
Absent:
Talented Chun Haw
Marauding Guoxiong
Dependable Jinzhong
Sublime Khim
Long-throw specialist Norman
Precocious En Dian
Nippy Kenny
To no surprise, the young opponents came out of the blocks by running and charging at us from the start. After some nervy moments, ARFC began to impose their authority in the field.
However, ARFC fell behind from their first counter-attack. 0-1
Mins later, ARFC conceded another goal. 0-2
ARFC did not let its heads dropped and gradually started creating chances after chances. Derrick, who showed the world how a right winger should be played, chipped in a delicious ball over the top for Alvin to latch on. With their big keeper charging out, Alvin lifted the ball over him and although their keeper managed to get a touch, it was not strong enough to prevent the ball from landing nicely into the net for Alvin’s 164th ARFC goal. 1-2
Many people may not realized this, but Haron also contributed to the build-up as he had made a great decoy run down the right flank, drawing a defender with him, before Derrick played Alvin in.
ARFC could have snatched an equalizer 7 mins later. Derrick dribbled his way into the box and was upended rather clumsily by their defender. Sebastian stepped up and although his low shot was well-struck to the corner, their keeper got down fast, ala Edwin van de Sar, to touch the ball out for a corner. With this penalty miss, the next designated penalty-taker will be rotated to another warrior, likely to be either Haron or Alvin.
Sebastian tried to make amends later but his free-kick skimmed the bar and flew out.
Tze Ern then replaced Hee, with Tjioe and Seh Meng coming in for Soon and Sebastian respectively. Seh Meng moved to right-back and Ron partnered Tjioe in centre mid.
Darren then replaced Elvis.
ARFC finally got its equalizer with yet another piece of good work by Derrick and Haron. Derrick found his way at the right and squared the ball across for Haron. Haron feigned to shoot but then chose to square the ball across to Alvin who was lurking on the left. Instinctively, Alvin did not let the ball dropped and duly volleyed the ball home for his 165th ARFC goal. 2-2 and the build-up to this goal was like computer game stuff.
ARFC finally took the lead with yet another fantastic build-up with Tze Ern lashing home with a place-shot that measured 777 km/h for his 6th ARFC goal. 3-2
ARFC was then in ascendency but did not extend its lead with the few chances that came its way. Particularly, Tjioe impressed with several shots that narrowly missed the target.
ARFC was punished when another counter-attack saw the opponents drawing level. 3-3 and the score remained this way at half-time.
Just 77 seconds from the re-start, a long ball was played out from defence (think from either Darren or Toh) that saw Alvin breaking free and faced their keeper alone. Incredulously, Alvin’s soft shot was parried away by their keeper who really defied his big frame by getting down well very fast.
Alvin redeemed himself minutes later. He was put through down the left flank and despite close attention from their covering defender, Alvin still managed to score with his outside right foot for his 166th ARFC goal. 4-3
Alvin’s hat-trick was his second in 2012 and his 16th hat-trick overall since he joined ARFC. With 166 goals, Alvin is now just 10 shy of Haron’s all-time record of 176 goals.
Towards the end, the rain got heavier and play was difficult. The opponents kept playing high and long balls in but the ARFC defence was really immaculate in its defending.
Man-of-the Match is jointly given to Derrick (first-half only), Tze Ern and Alvin, although I must really praise the defence for the excellent collective defending.
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