ARFC Veterans secured 7th win out of 10 matches after 3-2 victory

Playing its 10^th veteran match and for the first time at the magnificent Our Tampines Hub pitch, ARFC Veteran Team won 3-2 against Football Friends courtesy of a late goal from the hardworking Raymond.

ARFC Veteran Team was supported by the following:

Toh’s family – Linda, Gerrard, Jerald and Nicole;

Darren’s family –  Pauline, Rachel, Rayes and Radelle;

Elvis’ family – Anna, Tiara, Dyland and Gina;

Tze Ern’s family – Sharon, Weiyou and Yuzhen

Sebastian’s family, Caren and Kaizaree Jade-Eden Tan, were also present, albeit from the cosy library.

ARFC Veterans started with this line-up:

GK – Derrick

RB – Chua

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Toh

LB – Eng Lai

RM – Soon

CM – Ron

CM – Sebastian (captain)

LM – Darren

SC – Alvin

SC – Raymond

Subs:

Tze Ern

Huiming

Tjioe

Daniel

Tong

Blackburn

ARFC Veterans got off to bad start when it conceded a goal from the opponents’ first attack in the 3^rd min. 0-1

ARFC Veterans fought back with Alvin and Raymond closing down on their defence all the time. 

After a series of half chances, ARFC Veterans finally equalised in the 15^th min through a tried-and-tested-and-proven corner routine.  From the right, Sebastian hit a precise and ferocious corner into the danger zone (between 6-yard box and penalty spot) and Toh rose like a salmon to power home a header that almost burst the net. 1-1 and this was Toh’s 99^th goal.

Toh’s goal also saw his lovely wife and even lovelier children doing a “mini-Mexican wave” of their own at the side-line.

Tze Ern then replaced Eng Lai while Ron took a knock and was replaced by Tong.

ARFC Veterans continued to press and doubled its lead 77 seconds later.  From the left, Darren passed to Sebastian in the centre of the pitch.  Hearing Soon’s call on the right flank, Sebastian fizzed a low grounder to the right flank which saw Soon swinging in a cross to the far side.  Tze Ern came in from deep and passed the ball across goal. Raymond swooped in and shoot past their GK. 2-1 and this was Raymond’s 14^th ARFC goal.

ARFC Veterans then made a string of substitutions to give all players a run-out.

Derrick then made a stunning block from their indirect free-kick in our box.

Just before half-time, ARFC Veterans conceded another goal. 2-2

In the 2^nd half, ARFC continued its pressing match and Tjioe exchanged a series of wall passes with Raymond but he just couldn’t get a clean connection from his shot.

Frustration then crept in as ARFC Veterans lost its shape for a while.  However, ARFC Veterans soon settled down and put together some nice passes and movements, especially from the left side.

From Sebastian’s corner from the right, Toh and Tjioe both challenged with the opponents for the ball and the ball dropped nicely in front of Toh.  Unfortunately, Toh’s shot was blocked by the fallen Tjioe in front of their goal!

It was from the left that ARFC Veterans grabbed the winner.  Pressured by our relentless pressing, their right-back made an under-hit backpass to their GK. The ever-alert Raymond stole in from the blind side and nicked the ball way from their GK and rolled the ball into the empty net.  3-2 and this was Raymond’s 15^th ARFC goal.

ARFC Veterans then held on for a deserving victory.