Toh excelled in 3-1 win

Playing a 9 am match in 7887 years, ARFC shrugged off its dual problems of “morning sickness” and “no subs” by producing a clinical display to brush aside a neighbourhood social soccer team from Al-Khair Mosque comprising of students, working adults and veteran pak-ciks.

The match was witnessed by ARFC’s most ardent supporter and once-GK for ARFC, Brendan Casanova Roberto, of Singapore--Kosovo-Chilean-Zimbabwe-Mexico-Papua New Guinea (6 different continents)mixed parentage.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Ismail (guest keeper – Haron’s BIL)

Right-back - Indra (guest player)

Sweeper - Unpredictable Blackburn

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Skillful Weilit

Centre-mid - Marauding Guoxiong   

Centre-mid - Wonder Wayne

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick 

Striker - Powerful Alvin

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron (captain)

 

Subs:

None.

Absent:

Influential Sebastian

Speedy Hee

Dynamic Soon

Nippy Kenny

Dependable Jinzhong

Impeccable How Meng

Combative Ron

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Steely Tze Ern  

Resolute Jasper

Composed Jackson

Precocious Chun Haw

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

Jiawei

ARFC started with just 11 warriors as How Meng, Jasper and Chun Haw, who all promised to come, were still busy in their slumberland.  In stark contrast, the opponents had at least 30 of them who had arrived at 8 am to do their warm-ups together gather under the scorching sun.  On the side-lines, another 77 or so mah-ciks were busied playing the drums and all musical instruments imaginable.

Despite the huge disparity, ARFC did not let it affect their game as they started it with their usual slick passing.

In the 17th min, from a throw in by Darren near to the corner line, Derrick headed the ball backwards towards the centre of goal. Haron tried to attempt an overhead kick but failed to connect the ball. However, he managed to shield the ball from the opponent and allowed the on-rushing Guoxiong, who once again showed what ARFC has been missing during his referee hiatus, to slam the ball towards goal. Their keeper got his hands to the shot but as it was too powerful, their keeper could only parried the ball into the net. 1-0 and this was Guoxiong’s 18^th goal.

Guoxiong’s goal also ended a goal-drought since his last goal was on 28 Jul 2013 at Tampines SAFRA in the 3-4 defeat by the Zouk Team.

ARFC continued to press on the opponent's half and was rewarded in the 27th min. From a free-kick taken by Blackburn, he swung the ball towards Haron that was rushing into the box. Haron managed to touch the ball slightly before an on-rushing defender causing the defender to miss his clearance. The ball then dropped nicely in the box for Derrick, gliding in from the blind-side on the right, to whip the ball into the top corner beyond the despairing arms of the keeper.   2-0 and this was Derrick’s 74^th ARFC goal.

The opponents could not believe the score-line and started to make changes after changes with their many players available. The many changes however seemed to cause much confusion which ARFC fully took advantage of in the 37^th min.

With a free-kick earned just outside the box, Derrick quickly released it towards Wayne who was free in the box, while the opponents were still busy arguing among themselves and getting back to form their wall. Wayne did not waste the chance presented to him and simply and nonchalently guided the ball past the keeper. 3-0 and this was Wayne’s 11^th ARFC goal.

While ARFC was happy with their play thus far, the heat had also taken its toll with many of them experiencing “dead-leg” and all. Despite so, ARFC used its experience to control the tempo of the match to preserve energy.

Noticing the tiredness in ARFC’s play, the opponent pressed and poured forward in numbers.  They were eventually rewarded with a goal in the 67^th min. 3-1 now.

Ismail, Haron’s impressive keeper and BIL, in no particular order, then came to the fore by producing two world-class saves in the dying minutes.

Superb performance by ARFC’s defence marshalled by Toh and supported by Blackburn, Darren and Indra.  Guoxiong also reigned supremacy as centre midfielder.