Chua's solid performance key foundation to 3-2 win

Resuming its playing calendar after the lunar new year, ARFC put up a controlled performance to triumph 3-2 against a younger opponents Projek Bola at Tampines SAFRA.

ARFC was supported by its die-hard supporter, Lingzi (wife of Ron) as well as Tiara and Dylan.

ARFC also welcomed Rashid who joined ARFC officially today and was assignd the number 12 jerseys.

ARFC started with this 4-5-1 line-up:

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

Inspired by the official signing of Rashid, ARFC was able to enhance its passing and movements with Rashid providing the creative sparks and very well-supported by the industry and graft of Soon and How Meng.

In the 7^th min, Rashid released Wayne with a outside left-foot grounder but Wayne’s heavy touch unfortunately saw their GK rushing out to thwart him. Unlucky!

In the 17^th min, Blackburn’s corner from the right saw Toh only connected with a weak header.

Despite having nothing much to do for virtually he first 30 mins, Derrick still demonstrated his alertness when he saved Toh’s blushes after going down low very quickly to turn a goal-bound shot past the post. World-class save ala Petr Cech (the Chelsea version).

With almost the last kick of the half, ARFC took the lead. With a flowing move.   From his right-back position, Elvis passed to Rashid who in turn laid the ball to Haron who had dropped back to collect the ball.  Haron then passed to Chun Haw on the left and Chun Haw chipped in a high diagonal ball right into the heart of their defence. Lucas dashed in from deep, reached the ball ahead of their on-rushing GK and lifted the ball over him and into the net.   1-0 and this was Lucas’ 4^th ARFC goal.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC continued to match the younger and fitter opponents and soon doubled its lead.

In the 50^th min, Chun Haw was clumsily brought down by their defence and Sebastian directed Elvis to take the spot-kick due to the presence of his children.  Blocking out the screaming from Tiara and Dylan, Elvis calmly stroked the ball down the middle for his 14^th ARFC goal. 2-0 and the goal saw both Tiara and Dylan performing the ‘Vietnam-Wave’ at the sidelines. 

In the 60^th min, the referee awarded an extremely soft penalty which was nearly saved by Derrick. 1-2

Wayne then got down the left flank but his cross was not picked up by any ARFC warrior.

In the 87^th min, ARFC put the result to bed.  Derrick launched a long goal-kick down the left flank and Wayne then powered goalwards.  His cross/shot looked destined to reach Haron but their defender took a touch and wrong-footed his own GK. 3-1.

After 7 rounds of TV replays, the goal was credited to Wayne and this was his 34^th ARFC goal.

With the last kick of the match, the opponents pulled a goal back. 3-2

Special credit must be given to Chua, the 53 year-old warrior, for playing the whole match and his performance is an example for all ARFC warriors to emulate.

Voting Results:

Rashid – 10

Chua – 9

Ron – 8

Wayne – 5

Chun Haw – 2

Guoxiong – 1

Soon – 1

Have a PAWsperous New Year

On behalf of ARFC, here's wishing all current and ex-ARFC warriors, their families and love ones a:


PAWsperous New Yea.....


HUAT AHHHHHHH

Khim's sublime goal and Huiming's stunning blocks propelled ARFC Veteran Team to victory

Playing its 6^th veteran match and 2^nd match in 2018, ARFC Veteran Team posted its 2^nd successive 3-0 victory after comprehensively dismissing Shaolin FC, boasting Soon and Tong in its ranks, 3-0 at Yio Chu Kang SS.

ARFC Veteran Team started with this line-up:

GK – Derrick

RB – Kiat

Sweeper – Eng Lai

Stopper – Huiming

LB – David

RM – Raymond

CM – Sebastian (Captain)

CM – Khim

LM – Darren

SC – Haron

SC – Jeffrey

Subs:

Tjioe

Ron

Tze Ern

Blackburn

Alvin

Toh also turned up for photo-taking as he was recalled by SAF though the veracity could not be ascertained.

ARFC started at a fast and furious pace and within minutes, Raymond’s downward header put Haron clean through.  However, Haron’s stupendous volley was just99 mm over the bar but what a volley ala Torres in his Liverpool prime.

After a few more chances, ARFC finally opened the scoring.  From intense pressure on the left by Darren, Jeffrey and Sebastian, Haron received the ball outside the box.  Hearing Sebastian’s call, Haron relayed the ball to him and continued his run into the box.  Demonstrating perfect telepathy understanding, Sebastian sliced a perfectly-timed and perfectly-paced grounder into the path of Haron who did not even need to moderate his run due to the great ball.  Taking 2 more steps, Haron calmly placed the ball past their despairing GK for his 5^th ARFC Veteran Team goal and 249^th overall ARFC goals. 1-0

ARFC then made 5 substitutions with Tjioe, Ron, Tze Ern, Blackburn and Alvin coming on for Sebastian, Eng Lai, Raymond, Jeffrey and Haron respectively.

Blackburn almost immediately made a telling contribution when his cross-volley from the left to the far right saw Tze Ern failing to connect cleanly.

Alvin then laid the ball to Tjioe from 37 metres out an the latter’s world-class chip unfortunately clipped the cross-bar but what an audacious chip.

ARFC then doubled its lead thanks to a piece of silky skills from Khim.  Receiving the ball in the centre of the pitch, Khim slalomed past 3 opponents and moved menacingly towards goal.  Facing heir GK alone, Khim had the coolest of mind to simply place the ball past their GK for his 1^st ARFC Veteran Team goal and 59^th overall ARFC goals. 2-0 and what world-class skills.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC eased off a bit and ended up loaning Derrick and Raymond to the opponents in the last 20 minutes.

ARFC then put the result to bed after Tze Ern’s left-wing cross ball reached Blackburn who duly thumped home the ball for his 2^nd ARFC Veteran Team goal and 156 overall ARFC goals. 3-0

The opponents were quite unlucky as they hit the cross-bar twice.

Man-of-the-Match goes to Huiming who came up with several crucial blocks.

Special credit once again to Derrick for being the GK for most of the match, and to Kiat for replacing him.

ARFC crumbled after captain Toh's early departure in 0-7

Suffering a meltdown in the 2^nd half, ARFC succumbed to a 0-7 defeat against Mogura FC.

ARFC started with this line-up:

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

ARFC was able to match the much younger and fitter Mogura FC in the first half but rued the absence of faster and fitter players like Kenny, Darren, Tze Ern, Raymond and Alvin. 

Despite so, ARFC put up a determined performance with the defenders standing out.  Guest GK Thomas also kept ARFC in the match with several assured catches and saves.

However, Thomas then spilled a free-kick and their forward followed up to slot home their 1^st goal. 0-1

ARFC also lost a pillar in defence after Toh limped off with a groin injury.  After-match medical examinations revealed that he simply had too much sex on Saturday night.

ARFC could have equalized after Derrick teed up nicely for Sebastian outside the box.  However, Sebastian placed the ball just 77mm over the bar. Unlucky.

Chun Haw also impressed with several penetrating runs and shots but could not find the target.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC simply crumbled, no thanks in large part to the unforgiving heat.  In the last 15 mins or so, most of the ARFC warriors simply could not run anymore and conceded 6 more goals to lose 0-7.