Jonathan marked ARFC debut with goal in impressive 4-1 win over Trinity Church

In arguably its best performance in recent times, ARFC overcame a very strong Trinity Church Team 4-1 at their home ground at St. Patrick’s School on 19 May 2024 at 3 pm.

Jonathan Sng made his ARFC bow and capped off his impressive display by netting his ARFC debut goal.

What was very nice to see was that many family members of ARFC warriors turned up despite the searing heat:

Ariq - Haron

Tracia, Clara and Claris - Guoxiong

Tiara, Dylan and Dylan - Elvis

Germaine - Alvin

Joy, Kai, Ellie and Ella - Kenny

Xiao Ling and Raphael - Derrick

Charity - Jonathan 

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

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
13	Talisman Derrick	Goalkeeper
5	Energetic Kerwin	Right back
28	Hard-man Tjioe	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh	Stopper
6	Unbeatable Darren	Left back
17	Nippy Kenny	Right mid
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre Mid
4	Dynamic Soon	Centre Mid
10	Sublime Khim	Left Mid
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron	Striker
99	Powerful Alvin	Striker
Substitutes:
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
16	Marauding Guoxiong
19	Skillful Wei Lit
23	Talented Chun Haw
20	Composed Eng Lai
66	Vintage Chua
xx	Jonathan
Missing In Action:
2	Remarkable Rashid
14	Combative Ron
31	Wonder Wayne
78	Steely Tze Ern
98	Impeccable How Meng
xx	Divine Delon

The match was very evenly-matched though ARFC nearly opened the scoring in the 7th min.

Sebastian’s corner from the right was headed away and Kenny won the loose ball and played the ball back to Sebastian on the right.  With a quick swing, Sebastian’s floated ball back to the box was slightly mishit but it struck the crossbar and bounced out.

2 mins later, it was the turn of Kerwin to be unlucky.  Picking up a loose ball 30 mins away from their goal, Kerwin let fly a rocket but with their GK rooted to his spot, the ball cannoned against the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

Kenny then won a duel and played a reverse pass to Haron who just failed to reach the ball by a mere 0.99 mm.

At the 22nd min mark, ARFC made a string of substitutions with all subs coming on (except Elvis).

Wei Lit and Jonathan then combined to win the ball on the left.  Wei Lit, who had a good game, passed the ball back to Jonathan who killed the ball with a great first touch, took a step forward before hitting a long-range sliced shot to the top corner but it sailed just agonisingly over the bar.

ARFC was not to be denied 5 mins later with Wei Lit the main architect.  Not for the first time, Wei Lit won the ball at the left and again found Jonathan with a great pass.  Looking up, Jonathan unleashed a venomous low shot that was spilled by their GK.  In a flash, Kenny dashed in like Ian Rush and lifted the ball over their GK.  1-0 and this was Kenny’s 89th ARFC goal.

ARFC then came up wth a fantastic team move that started from Darren at left back.  His pass found Wei Lit at the left wing and with a quick turn, Wei Lit prodded the ball inwards to Chun Haw.  Hearing Guoxiong’s call at the right mid, Chun Haw spread the ball to him.  Guoxiong’s long cross sailed over their defence to the far left and Alvin chested the ball down.  With their GK to beat, Alvin hurried his shot and toe-poked the ball wide of goal.

Derrick then came to ARFC’s rescue when he stuck out a strong right hand to keep out a near-goal from their free-kick.

However, with virtually the last kick of the half, the opponents equalised from a corner routine that took a wicked deflection off Darren and wrong-footed Derrick. 1-1

In the 2nd half, ARFC won a fortuitous penalty after their left back handled the ball.  Haron stood up and despatched a coolly-taken penalty that sent their GK the wrong way.  It was Haron’s 2nd goal in successive matches.

2-1 and this was Haron’s 281st ARFC goal.

7 mins later came the move of the match that was really so nice to watch! 

From left, Khim dribbled past one opponent before finding Chun Haw in the middle.  Without breaking his stride, Chun Haw quickly moved the ball on to Kerwin.  Kerwin then spotted Jonathan’s run from deep and ping a perfectly-weighted ball down the right.  Breaking their offside trap, Jonathan powered into the box, shrugged their left back who was closing in menacingly before lifting the ball to the far post with a clean shot.  Superb move and finishing, and what a debut goal from Jonathan.  3-1 now.

Derrick then produced 2 unbelievable saves that every GK would be damn proud of!

First, the opponent curled a perfect ball to the top right hand corner that had goal screaming all the way.  Derrick then made a perfect move by taking a step backwards, stretching out his right hand to keep the ball out.  From the rebound, their striker reacted fastest and half-volleyed in a stinger but Derrick had other ideas when he saved with his leg!!!!! 

World-class is the word to describe these 2 saves in succession!

Derrick then made several punches as the opponents kept on raining crosses after crosses in.  Toh, Eng Lai, Tjioe and Elvis did very well by repelling such crosses too.

Elvis then produced the intervention of the match when the opponent tried to dribbled past him from a quick counter-attack.  Elvis then stuck out a trailing foot to block the ball and denied the opponent. Simply Virgil van Dijk-like move!

The opponent then pressured ARFC no end but to no avail with Tjioe, Toh, Elvis, Chua, Darren  and Eng Lai particularly impressive.

ARFC then out the result beyond doubt with its 4th goal of the match.

Khim won the ball and passed to Kenny who held the ball up.  Upon spotting Guoxiong’s run from deep into the left side of the box, Kenny’s timed his pass to perfection when he released the ball.  A gleeful Guoxiong did not waste Kenny’s pass when he slotted a brilliant left-foot shot past their GK.

4-1 and this was Guoxiong’s 39th ARFC goal.

This was really a great team performance against a strong and systematic Trinity Church Team. 

There is no ARFC warrior who did not play well but if there is a need to name Man-of-the-Match, then it has to be jointly given to Derrick, Darren and Wei Lit.