Chun Haw's 5th ARFC hat-trick inspired ARFC's victory

Playing on a Saturday afternoon for the first time in recent memory, ARFC showed remarkable resolve and tenacity to carve out a hard-fought victory over a Pioneer/Ayar Rajah comprising several ex-Malay internationals.

As the match was on a Saturday afternoon, numerous ARFC warriors could not make it but ARFC was boosted with 4 guest players.

ARFC started with only 10 warriors:

Jersey no.	Name	Position
33	Talisman Derrick	Goalkeeper
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right-back
15	Towering Toh (captain)	Sweeper
xx	Darren’s friend 1	Stopper
6	Unbeatable Darren	Left-back
xx	Darren’s friend 2	Right-mid
4	Dynamic Soon	Centre-mid
8	Talented Chun Haw	Centre-mid
10	Sublime Khim	Left-mid
xx	Andrew	Striker
Subs:
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
xx	Matynn
Absent:
2	Unpredictable Blackburn
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
5	Impeccable How Meng
7	Influential Sebastian
11	Speedy Hee
14	Combative Ron
17	Nippy Kenny
18	Determined Huiming
19	Skillful Weilit
20	Composed Eng Lai
21	Rampaging Raymond
28	Hard-man Tjioe
31	Vintage Chua
45	Commanding Ismail
66	Wonder Wayne
77	Dependable Jinzhong
78	Steely Tze Ern
99	Powerful Alvin

Due to heavy rain, the match was delayed. ARFC began with only 10men but seemed to control the game well against the veteran team of Pioneer/Ayer Rajah FC

10 mins into the game with only 10 men, we were surprisingly pressuring the opponent lead by who else. SOON. Their last man run out of space and attempt to clear the ball but landed on Khim. Look up and saw both Soon and Chun Haw on the right with only one defender to beat. Khim did a no-look pass like what Sebastian would have usually done to other ARFC warriors. Soon then dummied the ball to Chun Haw who took one more step and delivered a low shoot that float the ball just 10mm above the grass. 10 inches before the goal line, the ball touched the ground and skied even faster into the goal. Goal!!! 1-0 and this was Chun Haw’s 49^th ARFC goal.

5mins later ARFC conceded 1-1.

In the 27^th min, Khim threaded a through ball to Chun Haw who was running into the box. Shrugging a challenge by the opponent, Chun Haw managed to flick the ball to Haron. With an opposing defender closing in, Haron took a touch past the defender only for the defender's trailing leg to bring him down. PENALTY!

Dusting himself off the ground, Haron stepped up and took the challenge of taking the penalty and duly sent their GK the wrong way for his 235^th ARFC goal. 2-1.

7 mins later, off a beautiful play from the right, Guoxiong sent a delicious cross into the box which the defender managed to clear but only to Chun Haw. Chun Haw dribbled past an onrushing defender before leashing an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net. Great goal! 3-1 and Chun Haw has finally reached half a century goals for ARFC.

Half time: 3-1

Opponent made several changes after half time and manage to get a goal back within the first 10minutes. 3-2.

ARFC managed to keep the scoreline intact with several resolute defending and interesting counter pressing of its own. Clearly the opponents were intent to level the score and they managed to do so at the 67th min. 3-3.

Not happy with a draw, both teams opted to play attacking football and finding that winning goal. Lady luck shone on ARFC though, as in the 77th min, Chun Haw managed to curl the ball into the far corner of the net when the keeper miskick the ball after some wonderful pressing by Soon on the left. 4-3!

This was Chun Haw’s 5^th hat-trick for ARFC.

Match ended on the 80th min as the sky had turned dark.

Wonderful match played by both teams. Credible performance from ARFC especially in its pressing game by its midfield n forward, causing the opponent to make mistakes. Special mention too to Toh in marshalling the defence especially in guiding a 15-yr old newbie to the team. Derrick too made several wonderful saves to keep the team alive.

On a personal note Haron was happy with the turnout considering the heavy rain and possibility of it being cancelled at the last minute. Kudos to everyone who were present for the victory.

After the match, the experienced opponents heaped lavish praises on ARFC as this was their first defeat for a very long time.