Haron turned back the clock with predatory last-grasp winner

Playing against the Sarong Party Boys for the very first time, ARFC snatched a last-min, albeit well-deserved, victory in a match under extreme sahara-like desert weather.

Kudos to Derrick for once again sacrificing his outfield playing time to be goal-keeper.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Talisman Derrick

Right-back - Impeccable How Meng  

Sweeper - Combative Ron

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren  

Left-mid - Speedy Hee

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian (captain)

Right-mid - Marauding Guoxiong

Striker - Unpredictable Blackburn 

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Subs:

Powerful Alvin

Steely Tze Ern

Absent:

Commanding Ismail

Dependable Jinzhong

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Nippy Kenny

Skilful Weilit

Sublime Khim  

Wonder Wayne

Hard-man Tjioe

Immaculate Indra

Booming Boon

ARFC was quickest off the blocks with How Meng and Guoxiong particularly menacing down the right flank. First, Guoxiong’s cross from the right was met by Haron who somehow ballooned the ball. Then, Haron missed again from another cross from How Meng.

However, ARFC soon took the lead through some good passing movements on the right.

First, How Meng won the ball at right back and passed to Sebastian who in turned spread the ball out wide to Guoxiong. In the mean time, How Meng continued his over-lapping run. Guoxiong send a long ball down the right channel for Soon who had dashed down the right flank and was closed down by their keeper. Soon then dragged the ball back and How Meng, spotted their keeper off the line, chipped the ball over the head of their keeper for his 6^th ARFC goal. 1-0 and this was How Meng’s 3^rd successive scoring run.

ARFC then conceded a goal. 1-1

In the 2^nd half, despite dominating the match, ARFC fell behind. 1-2

ARFC’s equalizer then came with 10 mins to go courtesy of a cunning trick by Sebastian. A long clearance from Ron looked to be picked up by their central midfielder who then let the ball pass after hearing a shout “MINE” from Sebastian, thinking that the shout was from his team-mate.

The ball was then picked up by Toh who passed backwards to Alvin. Alvin, Haron and Toh then faced their sweeper with Toh pulling to Alvin’s right while Haron pulled to Alvin’s left.  Alvin took the smart option by executing a no-look reverse pass to Haorn who then killed the ball with a great first touch and then placed the pass their despairing keeper for his 215^th ARFC goal. 2-2

From Sebastian’s corner, Toh’s header was deflected wide by their defender. From yet another Sebastian corner, Toh headed narrowly over.

With almost the last kick of the match, ARFC snatched the victory. From Sebastian’s corner, Toh’s bullet header goalwards was parried by their keeper. Haron reacted quickest and swooped in to turn the ball over the line for his 216^th ARFC goal. 3-2!

Voting results:

Haron – 12

Derrick – 9

Ron – 7

Soon – 4

Toh – 3

How Meng – 1

Alvin – 1

Sebastian – 1

Darren – 1