Monday, June 22, 2015

Chun Haw leads the way to 2-1 victory


Playing on a desert-like weather at St Wilfrids pitch, ARFC overcame the tough challenge of EAFC with an inspiring performance from Chun Haw.  
 
A big credit to Ismail as well for playing despite fasting!

Just 7 mins before the 11 am kick-off time, Wayne informed that he could not make it. Thankfully, Toh and Soon turned up though Toh had a Father’s Day lunch at 1 pm and Soon just finished his routine 20-km training run. 

Before the match, ARFC warriors all looked dead which was made worse by the fact that the very young opponents were already warming up 30 mins before kick-off time.  

Upon seeing Soon’s arrival, the morale all ARFC warriors immediately shot up to the zinc roof and all were suddenly energized. 

ARFC started with 10 warriors as all 3 substitutes were late. 

Keeper - Commanding Ismail
Right-back – Dependable Jinzhong
Sweeper - Unpredictable Blackburn
Stopper - Towering Toh
Left-back - Unbeatable Darren
Left mid - Speedy Hee
Right mid - Marauding Guoxiong
Centre-mid - Talented Chun Haw
Centre-mid – Influential Sebastian (captain)
Striker – Nippy Kenny

Subs:

Dynamic Soon (late)
Skilful Weilit (late)
Gary (guest player - late)

Absent:

Steely Tze Ern
Powerful Alvin
Wonder Wayne
Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Hard-man Tjioe
Talisman Derrick
Combative Ron
ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Impeccable How Meng
Sublime Khim 

ARFC fired the first warning when Kenny was upended just outside the box. Sebastian’s curling free-kick, unfortunately, clipped the left cross-bar. 

Chun Haw was next to experience the bad luck. After Sebastian was brought down, Kenny stepped over the free-kick and Chun Haw’s powerful bender from distance bounced off the right stanchion! Unlucky! 

ARFC then took the lead after Chun Haw was upended in the box. Blackburn stepped up to drill the ball straight in for his 147th ARFC goal. 1-0 

Kenny and Hee then worked tirelessly to close down their defence and made space but to no avail. 

ARFC then conceded an unlucky break-away goal. Ismail did well to block the first shot but the opponent slotted into the empty net. 1-1 

Kenny’s corner was then flicked on by Toh which caused a mayhem near the 6-yard area.  In the ensuing melee, Chun Haw was then brought down but the referee failed to notice the foul. 

7 mins into the 2nd half, ARFC regained the lead after launching a quick counter-attack. From defending a corner, Sebastian passed to Gary on the left who in turn played to Hee. Without breaking his stride, Hee sliced a high ball to Kenny who had cleverly peeled away to the left flank and broke their off-side trap. Seeing their keeper charging out, Kenny expertly lofted the ball over him from left flank and the ball bounced and nestled nicely to the far post.  2-1 and this was Kenny’s 53rd ARFC goal.  

As the match wore on, almost all ARFC warriors were fast tiring but the defence, on the back of yet another impeccable display from Darren, held firm. Ismail then read the match very well with several vital interceptions. 

Voting results: 

Darren – 9
Chun Haw – 9
Kenny – 5
Soon – 4
Guoxiong – 3
Ismail – 3
Sebastian – 1
Jinzhong – 1
Hee – 1

 

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