Kenny joined elite ARFC hat-trick heroes list in thumping 8-2 triumph

Playing under approximately 77.77 degrees celcius temperature at Victoria School, ARFC destroyed OVA team 8-2 courtesy of a Man-of-the-Match performance from Alvin.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Wonder Wayne (volunteered to be keeper)

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis  

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren (captain)

Left-mid - Sublime Khim  

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon

Centre-mid - Unpredictable Blackburn

Right-mid - Speedy Hee

Striker - Powerful Alvin

Striker - Nippy Kenny

 

Subs:

Influential Sebastian 

Talisman Derrick

Steely Tze Ern

Combative Ron

Earl (guest player)

Absent:

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Marauding Guoxiong

Hard-man Tjioe

Mean-machine Hock

Long-throw specialist Norman

Precocious En Dian

Impeccable How Meng

Skillful Weilit

Resolute Jasper

Roy

Composed Jackson

Talented Chun Haw

ARFC brushed aside the super-duper hot weather to start the match strongly with Alvin, Kenny and Hee at the forefront of things.

Just 7 mins gone, ARFC took the lead. Soon played a delicious ball down the right flank for Hee to, well, speed clear. Hee drew their keeper out before squaring the ball for the on-rushing Alvin to simply tap the ball home for his 194^th ARFC goal. 1-0.

Hee was then the “first victim” of the weather when he signaled to be substituted, with Tze Ern taking his place. Moments later, Sebastian, Derrick and Ron took over from Kenny, Alvin and Soon. Derrick and Blackburn then formed the front-two.

ARFC conjured so many chances but failed to take them with Derrick’s miss taking the cake. Playing under the watchful eyes of his wife and 4 (!!) children, captain-of-the-day Darren bombed down the left flank before sending in a inch-perfect cross ala David Beckham in the 6-yard box line. However, Derrick’s stooping header went high over the bar when unmarked.

ARFC was then made to pay for its prolificacy when their first shot on target resulted in a goal! 1-1

To ARFC’s credit, all warriors did not panic and most importantly, did not engage in any finger-pointing at all.

In the 2^nd half, Hee was put clean through down the left flank twice in quick succession by Sebastian but he failed to capitalize. Unlucky!

Alvin then restore ARFC’s lead when he surged down the right flank. Hee then distracted their keeper by shouting for the ball from the left. Alvin’s cross-shot then somehow sailed over their keeper at the far post with their keeper still keeping an eye on Hee’s run from behind. 2-1 and this was Alvin’s 195^th ARFC goal.

Mins later, Soon’s incessant pressurizing paid dividends when he robbed the opponent and laid the ball to Alvin. Instinctively, Alvin played Kenny, who just came on for Wayne only, in and the latter duly slotted the ball home for his 14^th ARFC goal. 3-1

ARFC scored almost immediately. Sebastian played a précise ground ball to Alvin who then executed a through ball for Kenny to run from deep and placed the ball low into the net for his 15^th ARFC goal. 4-1

Kenny’s 15^th ARFC goal tied with Guoxiong at the 20^th position at the ARFC’s all-time scorers’ list.

ARFC then conceded another goal.4-2.

Blackburn restored ARFC’s 3-goal lead when he robbed their defender and rifled home his 124^th ARFC goal. 5-2.

ARFC continued pressing and Alvin chalked up yet another assist in this match when he passed to Kenny who easily scored to notch his fist-ever hat-trick for ARFC. 6-2 and this was Kenny’s 16^th ARFC goal, moving him ahead of Guoxiong.

With his hat-trick, Kenny has now officially joined the elite list of ARFC’s hat-trick heroes.

ARFC could not stop and Blackburn brought a high ball now about 47.77 metres from their goal. Taking aim for close to 7 seconds, Blackburn crashed in a cannon-ball that hit the top right-hand corner of the goal, giving their despairing keeper no chance at ll. World-class goal and this was Blackburn’s 125^th ARFC goal. 7-2

Kenny was not done yet. Derrick sped down the right flank and though he could easily take a shot and score, Derrick chose team over personal glory by squaring the ball across goal for Kenny to poke home his 17^th ARFC goal. 8-2

This was a match where ARFC could easily at least reach double-figures. The good thing to note is that every warrior played very very well and played for each other.

Special mention to Hee who worked tirelessly both at helping out his left-back and also contributed so much to ARFC’s attack.

Of course, Man-of-the-Match must be given to Alvin for his world-class display today.