Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri from ARFC

On behalf of ARFC, I would like to wish Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to:

• Haron, Su, Afiqah and Ariq;
• Ismail, Shidah and Aqueel;
• Indra and wife.

Now, we shall be looking forward to the power power makan (eg chicken wings, rendang, roti john, kueh kueh, etc) from all of them.....

InsyaAllah!


ARFC

Hee shrugged off disappointment of Melissa's absence with 10-star display

Strangely enough, without the presence of Melissa, Hee dished out a perfect-10 performance to inspire ARFC to a 6-1 victory over WN Footie at Bedok View SS on Sunday.

ARFC was once again supported by Shidah and Aqeel, lovely queen and lively prince of Ismail, and Joy, who had the privilege to witness her king’s (Kenny) last-grasp goal just as when she reached the pitch.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Commanding Ismail

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis  

Stopper - Towering Toh  

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Speedy Hee

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian (captain)

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon  

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick

Striker - Unpredictable Blackburn

Striker - Nippy Kenny

Subs:

Powerful Alvin (late)

Impeccable How Meng (late)

Weilit (guest player- late)

Eng Lai (guest player)

Dom (Eng Lai’s son – guest player)

Absent:

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Marauding Guoxiong

Combative Ron

Wonder Wayne

Steely Tze Ern

Sublime Khim

Immaculate Indra

Hard-man Tjioe

Booming Boon

It was clear from the start that the opponent was also a passing team and both sides took some time to figure each other out.

ARFC made the break-through in the 17^th min. Kenny and Hee combined well to get the ball into the penalty area. The ball was eventually retrieved by Toh near the right touch-line. Despite handicapped by his stiff neck, Toh still had a presence of mind to pass the ball out (just outside the 6-yard box) to Blackburn whose first shot was blocked by their keeper. From the rebound, Blackburn simply lashed the ball in for his 138^th ARFC goal. 1-0

The opponents then equalized. 1-1.

Within 7 minutes, ARFC regained the lead.  Soon burst right through the heart of their midfield and found Alvin. In a flash, Alvin outside-right foot half-volley was hit sweetly but it struck the cross-bar with their keeper beaten. Thankfully, Alvin followed up with a propelling header for his 237^th ARFC goal. 2-1

Ismail then came to ARFC’s rescue when he charged off ala Manual Neuer and foiled their striker who had broken ARFC’s off-side trap. World-class!

In the 2^nd half, ARFC quickly put the result to bed with 2 quick-fire goals within 7 minutes of the re-start.

First, Weilit found space down the right flank and swung in a cross. Their keeper failed to collect cleanly and the ball fell to Hee who charged in from the far-post. Hee picked up the ball and fooled their keeper and defenders with a clever back-heel that saw the ball trickled into the net. 3-1 and this was Hee’s 96^th ARFC goal.

ARFC then grabbed its 4^th goal of the match. For the umpteenth time in the match, Kenny was brought down by yet another crunching-from-behind tackle. Sebastian chipped a diagonal free-kick down the left flank and Alvin managed to retrieve the ball before crossing the ball back into the danger area. How Meng won the header but his header was blocked by their keeper. Just as How Meng was about to kick the ball over the line, he was held back by their keeper, giving the inept referee no choice but to point to the spot. Sebastian stepped up and duly sent the keeper the wrong way for his 94^th ARFC goal. 4-1

After about 20 minutes, ARFC scored its 5^th goal of the match.  Derrick knocked a header from centre mid area to the right flank. Soon charged in like a bull and in one smooth stride and movement, swiveled and volleyed the ball over the keeper and to the far corner from almost 37.77 metres out! The goal was almost similar to Marco Van Basten’s Euro 88 final goal against the Soviet Union!

5-1 and this was Soon’s 61^st ARFC goal.

With virtually the last kick of the match, Alvin found Kenny just outside the box at the right side. Seeing Joy walking into the venue, Kenny duly unleashed a scorcher that their keeper could not even see it before the ball nestled nicely to the far bottom corner. 6-1 and this was Kenny’s 42^nd ARFC goal.

It would not be fair to end this match report without special mention of Elvis who was immaculate with the timing of his tackles and marshalling of the back-line.

Voting results:

Hee – 10

Soon – 8

Alvin – 5

Kenny – 4

Sebastian – 4

How Meng – 2

Jinzhong – 1

Ismail – 1

Blackburn – 1

Elvis – 1

Darren – 1

Derrick – 1

Toh towers above all in 3-3 draw

Playing a rare Saturday night match at Tampines SAFRA, ARFC squandered a 2-0 lead before fighting back to draw 3-3 against a very experienced Chinese team, Peh Kio Old Boys, comprising several ex-Singapore Chinese internationals.

ARFC was supported by Shidah and Aqeel, queen and prince of Ismail respectively, and Melissa (Hee’s beau).

Kudos to both Ismail and Haron for turning up to play despite puasa. Great warriors!

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Commanding Ismail

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis  

Stopper - Towering Toh  

Left-back - Unpredictable Blackburn

Left-mid - Speedy Hee

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian (captain)

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon  

Right-mid - Marauding Guoxiong

Striker - Talisman Derrick

Striker - Nippy Kenny

Subs:

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron (arrived in 2^nd half)

Powerful Alvin (late)

Weilit (guest player)

Eng Lai (guest player)

YY (guest player)

Absent:

Combative Ron

Unbeatable Darren

Wonder Wayne

Steely Tze Ern

Sublime Khim

Impeccable How Meng

Hard-man Tjioe

Booming Boon

ARFC served notice of its intention to win the match when it launched attacks after attacks in the opening minutes. With just 7 mins gone, Derrick cleverly won a penalty after he was upended by a late tackle. Hee was tasked with the spot-kick but his low shot was saved by their keeper. From the rebound, Derrick could not fire into row ZZZ. Unlucky!

ARFC then deservingly took the lead after a daring foray by Blackburn who dribbled upfield and passed to Derrick just outside the box. Derrick sprayed the ball out wide to Kenny who had pulled out wide. Kenny’s cross as sharp as a needle and Toh outjumped their keeper to plant the ball into the empty net. 1-0 and this was Toh’s 76^th ARFC goal.

ARFC doubled its lead from a quick counter-attack. The ball was passed to Kenny who was lurking at the right midfield area. Both Guoxiong and Derrick made good runs down the right but Kenny had other ideas. Spotting Soon running in from deep down the left, Kenny’s high ball eluded the opponents, leaving Soon facing their keeper alone. Soon mistouched his first kick but fortune favoured the brave as the ball rolled past their keeper. From an acute angle, Soon slotted home his 60^th ARFC goal. 2-0

ARFC then conceded a goal from corner kick to lead 2-1 at half-time.

Ismail then made a stunning save from their corner to preserve ARFC’s lead.

ARFC then conceded 2 goals to trail 2-3.

Haron then came closest to equalize when he smacked a vicious left-foot shot against the cross-bar, nearing breaking it. Unlucky!

After relentless pressure, ARFC finally found a break-through.  Sebastian passed the ball to Toh who stayed up after an ARFC corner. Toh spun and put Derrick through who dashed in from the right flank. Derrick fooled their keeper with a fake shot and smashed the ball in for his 95^th ARFC goal. 3-3

With the goal, Derrick moved to level with Hee on 95 goals.

Credit to Kenny too for his tireless display as he tracked back on several occasions to defend and harass the opponents.

Voting results:

Toh – 10

Soon – 7

Kenny – 5

Derrick – 5

Elvis – 3

Guoxiong – 3

Blackburn – 2

Jinzhong – 2

Ismail – 1

Top 10 ARFC leading scorers (as at 07 July 2014)

1. Alvin (236)
2. Haron (211)
3. Blackburn (137)
4. Hee (95)
5. Derrick (94)
6. Sebastian (93)
7. Toh (75)
8. Robin (69)
9. Tjioe (59)
10. Soon (59)

ARFC rues tonnes of missed chances in 1-1 draw

Playing on a Friday night for the first time since years ago, ARFC could not convert its avalanche of chances against the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and could only draw 1-1 at the magnificent UWC (Dover Road) pitch.

ARFC was supported by Shidah and Aqeel, queen and prince of Ismail respectively, and Melissa (Hee’s beau).

ARFC also welcomed back Toh from his 2-week trials with Perth Glory FC.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Commanding Ismail

Right-back - Indra Marauding Guoxiong

Sweeper - Unpredictable Blackburn

Stopper - Towering Toh  

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren  

Left-mid - Talisman Derrick

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian (captain)

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon  

Right-mid - Marauding Guoxiong

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Striker - Speedy Hee

Subs:

Dependable Jinzhong

Combative Ron

Wonder Wayne

Steely Tze Ern

Absent:

Powerful Alvin

Nippy Kenny

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Sublime Khim

Impeccable How Meng

Hard-man Tjioe

Booming Boon

Probably sluggish from watching too much world cup matches till the wee hours, ARFC was really still in slumberland and conceded a goal within minutes from the opponent’s first shot at goal. 0-1

After conceding the goal, ARFC then decided to wake up from its deep sleep and created chances after chances, with Guoxiong and Derrick particularly menacing down the right and left flank respectively.

Nevertheless, ARFC could not find a break-through with many chances either fired wide or saved by their impressive keeper.

From Sebastian’s corner, Derrick then headed the ball towards the top right-hand corner but was kept out by their keeper.

After relentless pressure, ARFC finally grabbed the equalizer. Guoxiong did well to draw a foul on the right flank. Sebastian took the free-kick which he hit with venom right across the 6-yard box with Tze Ern, Derrick, Haron and Toh waiting. Tze Ern got to the ball first and glanced home for his 9^th ARFC goal. 1-1

With this goal, Tze Ern is now level on 9 goals with Ron and Yoong (ex-warrior).

ARFC still conjured to miss more chances.

The 2^nd half was the same old story as the 1^st half. Virtually every warrior (except defenders) had at least a shot on goal.

Toh later had a header cleared off the line too.

A pity that the other ARFC warriors could not find Haron who had taken up several good scoring positions with his movement throughout the match.

All in all, ARFC probably missed close to 20 chances. Also, Ismail probably touched the ball less than 10 times in the match.

By not scoring, Derrick's incredible consecutive 13-match (from 13 March to 22 June 2014) scoring run has ended.

Voting results:

Sebastian – 10

Ron – 10

Tze Ern – 9

Soon – 3

Hee – 2

Ismail – 1

Haron – 1

Toh – 1

Jinzhong – 1

Guoxiong – 1