Playing its 16th veteran match against
The ESSEX at the CJC pitch, ARFC Veterans kick-started 2019 with a very
patient, disciplined and controlled match to win 2-0.
ARFC Veterans started with this 4-5-1 line-up:
GK – Sunny (guest GK)
RB – Kiat
Sweeper – Toh
Stopper – Huiming
LB – Tze Ern
RM – Tong
CM – Sebastian
CM – Soon
CM - Tjioe
LM – Darren
SC – Raymond
Subs:
Eng Lai
Haron
Derrick
Jeffrey
Chua (late)
ARFC Veterans started the match with a
patient passing game and did not hurry its play. For the opening 20 mins, it
was ARFC Veterans all the way with the 3 centre midfielders totally controlling
the midfield.
ARFC Veterans took the lead in the 20th
min. With gradual and neat passing
down the right where Kiat and Tong were involved, the ball was passed to
Raymond who had pulled away to the right wing. Raymond then crossed in which was half clear by their
defender. Sebastian picked up the ball and dribbled into the box but before he
could pull the trigger, he was brought down. Tjioe stepped up and just managed to squeeze in his
spot-kick at the left post with their GK guessing the right way. 1-0 and this
was Tjioe’s 65th ARFC goal.
ARFC Veterans then made 5 substitutions with
Huiming, Tong, Kiat, Raymond and Tjioe making way for the 5 subs, and changed
formation to 4-4-2 with Haron and Jeffrey up front, Derrick and Chua on the
right with Eng Lai as the stopper.
ARFC then conceded a penalty. Thankfully, Sunny saved the day with a
world-class full-length flying save to his left to deny the opponents. Brilliant save!!
Soon then suffered slight cramps and asked to
be replaced by Tjioe.
With yet another patient build-up, ARFC
Veterans almost extended its lead. From the left back position, Tze Ern passed to Darren who
then squared inwards to Soon. Soon
then passed to Sebastian at the centre mid area. Sebastian then passed to Chua who had moved up. Chua then pinged a low ball down the
right to Derrick who then fizzed in a venomous ball right across goal that
somehow eluded both Haron and Jeffrey.
However, their right-back then handled the ball before it could get to
Darren.
This time round, Haron stepped up but his
hesitant spot-kick was saved by their GK.
In the 2nd half, ARFC Veterans
continued its relentless attacks and took the lead in the 57th min.
Again, ARFC Veterans started with yet another
neat passing and movement which saw Chua sending a low ball down the left flank
for Darren. Mimicking Andrew
Robertson, Darren chipped in a hanging cross all the way to the far post and
Haron came charging in and with a flying header, sent the ball into the roof of
the net!!! World-class goal
and it was Haron’s 258th ARFC goal. 2-0
From Sebastian’s corner, Jeffrey leaped and
met the ball with a powerful header but their defender deflected away for
another corner.
Haron then teed up Sebastian who floated shot
could not find the top left-hand corner.
The opponents then tried to provoke ARFC
Veterans with some antics which the referee unfortunately fell for it and
harshly sent off Tjioe.
Hence, ARFC Veterans played the last 20 mins
with only 10 warriors.
Despite so, ARFC Veterans held up well with
Toh marshalling his defence well while Sunny came up with some assuring
catches.
ARFC Veterans almost scored a 3rd
goal after some great work from Raymond down the right. Unfortunately,
Derrick’s placed shot was turned away by their GK.
This was arguably ARFC Veterans’ 2nd
best display (the best display was the match at Floating Platform where we won
3-0 against the Liverpool Fan Club team). All warriors played very well.
o Sunny – Very reliable GK. Topped with a penalty save
o Kiat and Tong – Combined very well on the right.
o Toh – Marshalled defence like Alan Hansen
o Huiming – Wonderful stopper and breathing down
their striker all the time
o Eng Lai – Very composed play and did not put a foot
wrong at all
o Tze Ern – their right wing could not get past him
at all. Came up with several
incisive dribbles and forays up front
o Sebastian, Soon and Tjioe - Wonderful trio who complement and supplement each other’s
strengths very well
o Darren – Andrew Robertson and John Barnes combined –
says it all!
o Raymond – Harassed their defence no end. Energy
level in unbelievable
o Haron – Very neat and clean touches. World-class
header goal!
o Derrick – With a few more matches, we will see Derrick
the wizardry right winger soon. Great cross that won us a penalty.
o Jeffrey – Came up with some nice hold-up play and
touches. Nearly scored with a
powerful header.
o Chua – Made so many vital interceptions and
clearances. Simply brilliant full back.
