Haron's perfect hat-trick in 5-2 win

On a back of a perfect hat-trick from Haron, ARFC brushed aside a late challenge from Team V with a comprehensive 5-2 victory.

Special mention to Eng Lai for turning up despite having to take his annual gruelling IPPT the next day.

ARFC also welcomed back Derrick for his GK duty.

ARFC was supported by Reyes, Darren’s precocious son.

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

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

ARFC took control right from the start but could not conjured good chances though Tze Ern did fire over the fence from outside the box.

ARFC then won a series of corners but just could not get the break-through. 

From Sebastian’s corner, Haron stole in unmarked but could not direct his header downwards.

In the 20^th min, ARFC finally opened the scoring. From Derrick’s long drop-kick to the left, Tze Ern flicked the ball goalwards.  Soon ran in from deep and flicked the ball over their GK for his 76^th ARFC goal. 1-0

Alvin then came on for Haron and despite his runs, he could not further ARFC’s advantage.

Eng Lai and Blackburn then replaced Toh and Soon respectively.

Rashid then volleyed a left-footer beauty but their defender blocked it.

ARFC continued to press and was patient throughout, with Chun Haw, Sebastian and Rashid particularly menacing with their neat passes.

Towards the end of the half, Kerwin also replaced Tze Ern.

In the 2^nd half, Alvin squared the ball across to Haron who was totally unmarked. However, he fired into row Z.

Rashid then came close but his low fierce shot was blocked by their defender.

7 mins later, Haron made amends for his horrendous miss. From Blackburn’s corner from the left, the opponents made a mess from ARFC’s harassing and their left-back inexplicably headed the ball over their GK.  Haron was the biggest beneficiary when he simply nodded the ball into the empty net.  2-0 and this was Haron’s 251^st ARFC goal.

ARFC made to have put the result to bed 7 mins later.  After a series of ping-pong-like shots and blocks, Kerwin finally drilled the ball home for his ARFC debut goal! 3-0 now.

By now, it was pouring and ARFC’s defence lost concentration momentarily.  First, Derrick produced a stunning save from a near-certain goal.  Then, Chua made a stunning recovery block.

However, the opponents did pull 2 goals back to trail 2-3.

Nevertheless, ARFC did not lose its focus and rediscover its shape.

Chua made a foray upfront and pinged the ball upwards. Alvin touched on the ball that wrong-footed their sweeper.  Haron duly lapped up the loose ball, pulled away from their GK who had charged out before sweeping the ball into the unguarded net with his left foot.  4-2 and this was Haron’s 252^nd ARFC goal.

With 77 seconds left in the match, Alvin chased a ball into the penalty box and as flattened by their GK, giving the referee the easiest of decision to award a penalty.

Brushing aside Blackburn and the sprinting Derrick as both of them wanted to take the penalty, Sebastian passed the ball to Haron who had a chance to notch his hat-trick.  Naturally, Haron did not disappoint and sent their GK the wrong way with a low right-footer to complete a perfect hat-trick.  5-2 and this was Haron’s 253^rd ARFC goal.

This was also Haron’s 14^th ARFC hat-trick that garnered 47 goals.

Voting Results:

Haron – 8

Soon – 8

Chun Haw – 6

Rashid – 6

Chua – 4

Alvin – 3

Darren – 2

Derrick – 1

How Meng – 1