ARFC in undeserving 3-5 defeat by Trinity Church

 Playing on 5 Nov 2023 at 3 pm at the fantastic pitch at St. Patrick’s School, ARFC came unstuck and crashed to a 5-3 defeat against Trinity Church. 

 

Several ARFC warriors were either late or arrived just when the match was about to kick off and hence did not have proper warm-up.

 

ARFC was supported by:

 

·       Kenny’s family – Joy, Kai, Ellie and Ella

·       Guoxiong – Clara and Clarise

·       Elvis – Dylan, Tiara and Gina

·       Chun Haw – Chloe

 

ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-4-2 line-up:

 

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
29	Flying Fremont	Goalkeeper
14	Combative Ron	Right back
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh	Stopper
6	Unbeatable Darren	Left back
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right mid
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre Mid
28	Hard-man Tjioe	Centre Mid
19	Skillful Wei Lit	Left Mid
23	Talented Chun Haw	Striker
17	Nippy Kenny	Striker
Substitutes:
4	Dynamic Soon (late)
31	Wonder Wayne (late)
66	Vintage Chua
99	Powerful Alvin
xx	Rui Kai (guest player)
Missing In Action:
1	Agile Zhi Chong
2	Remarkable Rashid
5	Energetic Kerwin
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
10	Sublime Khim
11	Speedy Hee
13	Talisman Derrick
18	Determined Huiming
20	Composed Eng Lai
26	Rampaging Raymond
27	Left-foot wizard Kejendran (KJ)
77	Dependable Jinzhong
78	Steely Tze Ern
98	Impeccable How Meng
xx	Divine Delon

Both teams were evenly-matched in the opening exchanges though ARFC had the better chances.

 

First, Guoxiong made a foray down the right flank and chipped a hanging cross to the far post.   Chun Haw ghosted in but only managed to place his stooping header just wide of the left post.  Unlucky but what a cross from Guoxiong!

 

Minutes later, Guoxiong created another good chance when he cut back from right to the on-rushing Sebastian slightly on the right.  Without breaking his strides, Sebastian executed a side-foot high curling ball over to the far post that saw the ball missing the left stanchion by 2 mm and landed in the top of the net.

 

The opponents then scored from a free-kick. 0-1

 

Rui Kai then came on for Ron, who had requested to be substituted, to take up right mid position with Guoxiong dropping to right back.

 

Rui Kai was then fouled just outside the right edge of the penalty box. From the ensuing free-kick, Sebastian whipped the ball into the danger zone in the penalty box which was flicked on by Rui Kai and Tjioe was there to stab the ball home.

 

1-1  and this was Tjioe’s 73^rd ARFC goal.

 

The water-break at 20^th min mark saw ARFC made a raft of substitutions.

 

However, Alvin lasted only 3 mins again due to his dead leg injury.

 

The opponents then scored 2 goals to lead 3-1 at half-time.

 

In the 2^nd half, ARFC came out with all guns blazing and pinned the opponents back.

 

Chun Haw’s pin-point cross from the right saw Kenny, who has been impressive all day, planted a looping header which struck the cross-bar.  Unlucky!

 

ARFC grabbed a goal back courtesy of Kenny’s invention.   Darren found him with a pass down the left channel.  In an instance, Kenny dribbled and sped past their right back all the way to the left byline before arrowing a low ball into the 6-yard box.

 

Wayne did very well when he displayed a typical poacher instinct by moving into the box before sliding and rifling the ball into the roof of the net for his 59^th ARFC goal.

 

2-3 now.

 

ARFC had more chances to equalise.  Darren’s free-kick saw Chun Haw winning an aerial duel which resulted in the ball dropping to the unmarked Rui Kai in the box.  Alas, Rui Kai miscued his shot and the ball went wide of goal.

 

Darren then released Chun Haw down the flank and though Chun Haw managed to beat their GK and defenders to the ball, he inexplicably side-footed wide with the goal gaping!

The opponents then capitalised on ARFC’s profligacy by scoring another 2 goals to lead 5-2.

 

To its credit, ARFC did not give up and continued to give its all which netted in a very good team goal.

 

From a ball played into the space just right outside the top of their penalty box, Kenny demonstrated his nippiness by stealing ahead of their defender before making a reverse pass to Rui Kai.  Rui Kai drew their GK out and then squaring the ball to his right for Chun Haw to tap the ball into the empty net.  Wonderful goal.

 

3-5 and this was Chun Haw’s 114^th ARFC goal.

 

With time running out, ARFC had to succumbed to only its 2^nd defeat in 13 matches in 2023.

 

Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to Kenny, Ron and Chua though I must say that the overall efforts and determination by the team was really commendable.