ARFC in bizarre 1-3 defeat

Playing for the first time at the brand-new pristine pitch at SUTD, ARFC out in a Hyde and Jackell performance to lose 1-3 against Reds FC.

Prior to the match, Blackburn violently declined the chance to manage ARFC.

ARFC started with this 4-4-2 line-up:

Jersey no.	Name	Position
33	Talisman Derrick	Goalkeeper
31	Vintage Chua	Right-back
28	Hard-man Tjioe	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh (captain)	Stopper
6	Unbeatable Darren	Left-back
17	Nippy Kenny	Right-mid
4	Dynamic Soon	Centre-mid
7	Influential Sebastian	Centre-mid
2	Unpredictable Blackburn	Left-mid
99	Powerful Alvin	Striker
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron	Striker
Subs:
8	Talented Chun Haw
20	Composed Eng Lai
66	Wonder Wayne
Xx	Lewis (guest player)
Xx	Lucas (guest player)
Xx	Larry (guest player)
Absent:
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
5	Impeccable How Meng
10	Sublime Khim
11	Speedy Hee
14	Combative Ron
16	Marauding Guoxiong
18	Determined Huiming
19	Skillful Weilit
21	Rampaging Raymond
45	Commanding Ismail
77	Dependable Jinzhong
78	Steely Tze Ern

ARFC started confidently and was stroking the ball around with ease.

From one such movement, ARFC took the lead. The ball was stated from Chua at right-back which saw the ball moved from Sebastian to Soon and then to Kenny on the right flank.  Spotted Chun Haw running into the penalty box, Kenny whipped in a tentalising ball which saw Chun Haw challenging for the ball. Their GK managed to clear the ball before Chun Haw could reach him.  However, his clearance only found its way to Haron’s feet. Demonstrating great composure and accuracy, Haron bade his time and placed home a low shot that brushed off the left post and nestled nicely into the net. 1-0 and this was Haron’s 234^th ARFC goal.

Wayne then latched on to a through ball and managed to skip past GK who looked to have caught Wayne with a late tackle. However, Wayne stayed on his feet and Kenny then fired the loose ball over the bar. Great sportsmanship from Wayne thouh he could have just fallen over and win a penalty.

After missing several chances, ARFC could only take a 1-0 lead into the second half.

The second half, however, told a different story with ARFC surprisingly under tremendous pressure and conceded 2 goals in quick succession.

Derrick then enhanced his reputation as a world-class penalty stopper when his Bruce Grobblearr-like antics out off their striker who sliced his spot-kick wide after a foul by Tjioe.

Derrick then produced a world-class save when he somehow stuck out his left foot to block a almost-certain header from their forward.

Alvin then had a golden chance to snatch an equaliser. After receiving a great long ball from Chua, Alvin powered clear and upon reaching the penalty box, he was about to shoot when their defender, who was almost half the age of Alvin, came from nowhere to nick the ball away.

ARFC then conceded a 3^rd goal.  Derrick did very well to palm out a venomous free-kick but their forward lashed home the rebound. 1-3

Voting results:

Derrick – 10

Kenny – 10

Darren – 8

Soon – 6

Toh – 3

Chua – 2

Tjioe – 2

Haron – 1