ARFC too good for SHHK in 5-0 win

In a highly-anticipated match against SHHK, ARFC proved a standard too far from the SHHK with a comprehensive 5-0 victory at SIA Sports Club.

ARFC was supported by Lingzhi, Ron’s lovely wife.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Commanding Ismail

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Stopper - Towering Toh (captain)

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren 

Left-mid - Speedy Hee  

Centre-mid - Combative Ron

Centre-mid - Nippy Kenny

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick

Striker - Powerful Alvin

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron  

Subs:

Skilful Weilit

Impeccable How Meng

Unpredictable Blackburn

Dynamic Soon (late)

Absent:

Influential Sebastian (playing for SHHK)

Steely Tze Ern (playing for SHHK)

Wonder Wayne

Sublime Khim  

Marauding Guoxiong 

Hard-man Tjioe

Immaculate Indra

Booming Boon

Within seconds, ARFC earned itself a dubious penalty after Derrick was brought down despite a fair but hard challenge.  Haron stepped up and beat their keeper. However, the referee ordered a re-take as Kenny had encroached. No matter, as Haron successfully converted with his 2^nd attempt for his 218^th ARFC goal. 1-0

In the 7^th min, Kenny scored a gem of a goal. Picking up a clearance from 37.77 metres out, Kenny spotted their keeper off the line and unleashed a belter that flew over their keeper for his 47^th ARFC goal. 2-0

ARFC was awarded yet another penalty after Derrick won yet another penalty albeit a fair penalty. However, Haron performed a Chris Waddle in the penalty shoot-out between England and Germany in 1990 World cup semi-final when he sent the ball into the nadir.

7 mins from the end of the half, Derrick put the result beyond doubt when he connected with a header from Blackburn’s corner for his 101^st ARFC goal. 3-0

7 mins into the second half, Kenny grabbed his brace when he picked up a perfectly-weighted lofted pass from Weilit, rounded their keeper and placed the ball into the far bottom corner. 4-0 and this was Kenny’s 48^th ARFC goal.

Alvin wrapped things up when he justified his "powerful" moniker.  From yet another Darren's torpedo-like throw-in, Alvin fully utilised his upper body strength ala Didier Drogba to hold off their sweeper before placing the ball home for his 245^th ARFC goal. 5-0

ARFC could have notched a half-dozen score-line when ARFC was awarded its 3^rd penalty of the match. Ismail ran all the way from his position but saw his spot-kick well-saved by their keeper. With the miss, Ismail has yet to open his ARFC scoring account.

Voting results:

Kenny – 11

Ron – 8

Weilit – 7

Darren – 5

Derrick – 5

Ismail – 3

Alvin – 3

How Meng – 2

Haron – 1

Alvin powered ARFC to narrow but totally deserving 2-1 win

Playing at St Patrick’s School again since the ill-fated day when their sweeper was brutally hacked down by his own goalkeeper, ARFC defeated Trinity, the same opponent, 2-1 courtesy of an determined, perseverance and superb effort from Alvin.

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 - Unpredictable Blackburn  

Centre-mid - Combative Ron

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick

Striker - Powerful Alvin (captain)

Striker - Nippy Kenny

Subs:

Influential Sebastian

Speedy Hee

Wonder Wayne

Absent:

Sublime Khim  

Steely Tze Ern

Marauding Guoxiong 

Skilful Weilit

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Impeccable How Meng

Hard-man Tjioe

Immaculate Indra

Booming Boon

ARFC was quicker off the blocks and Blackburn soon put Derrick through with a sliced pass. However, Derrick’s shot hit the upright and bounced out.

Derrick’s lucklessness continued when he again struck the same post after being teed up by Alvin.

ARFC then conceded a goal. 0-1

ARFC equalized 7 mins into the 2^nd half. Blackburn’ bullet corner from the right was headed out by their defender. Darren retrieved the ball near the left flank and passed to Ron. From the left, Ron swung in a cross and Jinzhong dashed in from deep to place a brilliant well-placed glancing header to the far post ala Lawrie Sanchez’s headed goal for Wimbledon against Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final. 1-1 and this was Jinzhong’s 2^nd goal for ARFC.  1-1

ARFC put the opponents under severe pressure but were unable to grab a break-through until Alvin’s inspiring move in the dying minutes.

The ball was cleared all the way and was headed out at the left corner. While all warriors had given up on the chase, Alvin had other ideas. He embarked on a lung-bursting run and just managed to keep the ball in at the left corner spot. With their keeper back-pedalling, Alvin sent the ball across goal and there was Keny who popped up at the far post to steer the ball into the empty for his 46^th ARFC goal. 2-1

World-class effort from Alvin. Truly an inspiring moment.

What made Alvin’s effort more commendable is that he was fed mainly with lousy balls from the midfielders and some selfishness from Blackburn. However, Alvin did not give up at all.

Voting results:

Alvin – 12

Ron – 11

Kenny – 6

Jinzhong – 6

Darren – 5

Soon – 1

Elvis – 1