Blackburn turns back the clock with inspiring display

In a friendly match at the St.Gabriel’s secondary school artificial pitch, ARFC bounced back from last week’s thrashing by SAFSA to easily sweep aside the challenge of another young team, SMS FC, by a score-line of 4-2.

ARFC’s comprehensive victory was witnessed by Rayes (son of Darren) and Rachel (beau of TBN).

Soon, despite his gruelling 30-km training run in the morning, Playing for very first time, still appeared to lend support though he refused to play. By this simple yet noble act, Soon has set a example to all ARFC warriors on what dedication and commitment means.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper           -           Impeccable How Meng

Right-back     -           Unpredictable Blackburn (captain)

Sweeper         -           Astute-reading sweeper Elvis       

Stopper          -           Towering Toh

Left-back       -           Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid         -           Talented Chun Haw

Centre-mid    -           Influential Sebastian 

Centre-mid    -           Combative Ron

Right-mid      -           Nippy Kenny  

Striker                        -           Speedy Hee

Striker                        -           Powerful Alvin

             

Subs:

Marauding Guoxiong  

Talisman Derrick

Wonder Wayne

Dynamic Soon  (but did not play)

Absent:

Dependable Jinzhong

Steely Tze Ern

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Resolute Jasper

Composed Jackson

Sublime Khim

Hard-man Tjioe

Skillful Weilit

Booming Boon

Jiawei

At almost a 50-min delay, the referee still did not appear and an agreement was reached for Guoxiong to stand-in as referee first.

ARFC took the lead within 177 seconds. Chun Haw chipped in a diagonal cross ball from the left and Kenny timed his run to perfection to break their off-side trap. Kenny killed the ball with a perfect first touch, rounded their keeper and stroked the ball into the empty net for his 23^rd ARFC goal, thereby continuing his recent scorching form for ARFC. 1-0

The opponents tried to protest but the referee’s decision was really spot-on.

Kenny’s goal also moved him level with an ex-ARFC scoring legend, David, on 23 goals.

3 mins later, the referee got another decision right when he blew an off-side against the opponents who protested more violently this time but was ticked off by the referee.

One thing worth to note is that despite being relatively new, Guoxiong’s refereeing standard is almost on-par with Pierluigi Collina, the bald-headed Italian referee. Besides getting both decisions correct, Guoxiong even has the same “killer-stare” as Collina when he ticked off their left-back for vehement protesting!!!!

The referee then turned up and took over from Guoxiong.

ARFC then spurned a host of chances, the most glaring being Derrick’s missing of 2 easy headers and Hee side-footing wide from 0.77 yards after Alvin’s great work down the right flank.

ARFC then doubled its lead after Blackburn picked up a cleared ball just 0.77 mm inside their half at right side. Without breaking his stride and spotting their keeper slightly off his line, Blackburn thumped a long high ball goal-wards. The ball sailed over their keeper, took a bounce and landed into the net. The goal was really similar to David Beckham’s land-mark goal in 1997! 2-0 and this was Blackburn’s 130^th ARFC goal!

ARFC still continued to be wasteful in front of goal.

How Meng then came up with several good catches and punches.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC continued to dominate play and extended its lead just 7 mins into the half.

Sebastian twice exchanged wall-passes with the very impressive Chun Haw.  Receiving Chun Haw’s return low ball about 37 metres away from goal, Sebastian’s first touch took him away from their covering midfielder, found a gap at the top left-hand corner, and lifted the ball right at the spot where the gap was. Their keeper tried to save but could only grasp thin air. 3-0 and this was Sebastian’s 88^th ARFC goal.

How Meng then produced the save of the match when he leaped like a leopard and pushed a long-range violent shot over the bar. Simply breath-taking!

How Meng continued his top form when he punched 2 threatening in-swinging corners under heavy pressure from the opponents.

Blackburn then put the result beyond any reasonable doubt in the 67^th min.  Sfter a string of passes, Alvin laid a ground ball out to Blackburn who was 40 metres out. He took a gentle touch and chipped the ball elegantly over their keeper for his 131^st ARFC goal. 4-0 and another world-class goal!

ARFC then lost some tactical discipline and conceded 2 goals.

Hee then impressed with a superb defending despite playing as a striker. From their quick counter-attack from a corner, Hee showed his world-renowned speed by matching their right winger, who is at least half Hee’s age, pace-for-pace for almost the length of the field before winning a throw-in at our left-back position. Brilliant!

Lots of people may not notice but Hee actually put in lots of harassing and covering work even though he is at times playing as a striker.  Great team player.

These are the voting results:

Blackburn – 23 pts;

Sebastian – 20 pts;

Chun Haw – 19 pts;

Kenny & How Meng – 7 pts each;

Hee & Alvin – 3 pts each;

Derrick – 2 pts.

Congratulations to Blackburn and Sebastian for winning $10 and $5 respectively.