Resuming its playing calendar, ARFC showed
no signs of ill-effects from all the bak kwa, pineapple tarts, love-letters,
etc etc…by holding off a determined and strong challenge of Carmichael FC 4-2
on the back of an effervescent performance from Hee and the potent combination
of Haron and Alvin.
This is the starting line-up:
Keeper - Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back - Marauding Guoxiong
Sweeper - Composed Jackson
Stopper - Towering
Toh
Left-back - Unpredictable Blackburn (captain)
Left-mid - Speedy Hee
Centre-mid - Combative Ron
Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian
Right-mid - Dynamic Soon
Striker - Powerful
Alvin
Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Subs:
Talisman Derrick (late)
Unbeatable Darren (spectator only)
Absent:
Wonder
Wayne
Skillful Weilit
Resolute Jasper
Hard-man Tjioe
Impeccable How Meng
Talented Chun Haw
Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Sublime Khim
Steely Tze Ern
Mean-machine Hock
Long-throw specialist Norman
Precocious En Dian
Nippy Kenny
Despite missing a clutch of warriors, ARFC still come up of the blocks
explosively and took the lead in the 7th min.
A brilliant through ball from Ron saw Alvin scuppering away from their
defence line all the way to the left. Drawing their keeper to him, Alvin
spotted Haron coming in from deep and squared the ball across for Haron to
easily roll the ball (speed about 77 cm/hour) into the empty net for his 184th
ARFC goal. 1-0
The opponents almost equalized from a corner but Guoxiong hacked the
ball away at the goal-line ala Ashley Cole.
ARFC soon doubled its lead. From a throw-in, Alvin was pressured by
their defender and the ball went loose. Soon continued his run from outside the
box and met the ball instinctively and fired home with his side-foot for his 46th
ARFC goal. 2-0
ARFC could have killed off the match minutes later. Sebastian mimicked
Ron’s earlier assist by prodding a similar ball to Alvin who was clear at the
left. However, Alvin took too long with the ball and instead of passing to
Haron who was also free on the right, the ball was cleared.
The opponents then pulled a goal back. 2-1
In the 2nd half, Sebastian broke clear on the right bye-line
but his cross-shot struck the cross-bar.
In another corner, Sebastian played a quick diagonal low ball to
Blackburn whose ferocious shot was turned goalwards by Toh but his shot was
blocked.
Derrick then struck the cross-bar with a venomous shot.
By now, ARFC warriors were tiring and the opponents also had 9
substitutes on their bench as compared to only one warrior substitute for
ARFC. Naturally, the opponents piled on
the pressure but Jackson came to ARFC’s rescue with 3 crucial blocks.
After absorbing their pressure, ARFC broke clear after yet another
link-up play between Alvin and Haron. Alvin held up the ball and played Haron
through down the right flank. Showing nifty footwork, Haron slalomed his way
down the flank and fizzled in a low cross for Hee, who came from behind, to
rifle the ball into the roof of the net for his 86th ARFC goal. What
a superb team goal! 3-1
The opponents were now deflated and ARFC soon added a 4th
goal. Soon played a grounder to Sebastian who was just inside his own half.
Sebastian lifted the ball off the ground and thumped the ball high into the
area just outside their penalty box. Guoxiong then showed his superior fitness after
his referee course by sprinting all the way from his right-back position and pressured
their defender. Under intense pressure, their defender missed the clearance and
Guoxiong gleefully played a small square ball to Alvin who nonchalantly chipped
over their keeper ala Matthew Le Tissier for his 188th ARFC goal.
4-1
With the victory wrapped up, ARFC loosened a bit and conceded another
goal. 4-2
Men-of-the Match are jointly given to Hee (for his relentless pressure
on opponents), Haron (for his classy touches and moves) and Alvin (for his dominant
Drogba-like display).
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