Jinzhong grabbed debut ARFC goal in 3-1 victory

Playing for the first time at the pristine artificial pitch at St. Patrick’s School, ARFC defeated Trinity 3-1 in a shortened match after their sweeper suffered a serious injury which was not helped by the delayed arrival of the ambulance. Their sweeper, Mike, was later found to have a fractured neck and latest information is that he is recovering.

ARFC welcomed back its all-time top scorer Alvin after his nightmare ankle injury sustained while playing for Nee Soon CSC.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Talisman Derrick

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Combative Ron

Left-mid - Unbeatable Darren

Centre-mid - Marauding Guoxiong

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian (captain)

Right-mid - Unpredictable Blackburn

Striker - Powerful Alvin

Striker - Speedy Hee

Subs:

Wonder Wayne

Commanding Ismail (late)

Absent:

Dynamic Soon  

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Steely Tze Ern  

Nippy Kenny

Impeccable How Meng

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

Within 5 mins, Ismail arrived and too over from Derrick in goal.

With just 17 mins gone, their sweeper was injured after his own keeper charged out like a raging bull and floored him. Alvin did well to put his finger into his mouth to prevent him from biting his lips and tongue, while Ismail later performed some first-aid on him while waiting for ambulance’s arrival. Meanwhile, Sebastian removed his boots, socks, ankle guards to relieve the pressure on him who was motionless. Kudos to all of them!

The first half was stopped while waiting for the ambulance.

After the ambulance finally came and left, Trinity made the decision to resume the match.

ARFC took the lead after some intricate passing between Blackburn, Wayne, Alvin and Sebastian which saw Sebastian making a no-look reverse inside the left channel. Derrick came in from deep and continued his red-hot form when he swept in a left-foot shot that grazed the left-hand post and beat their keeper at his near post for his 80^th ARFC goal. 1-0

The inept referee then awarded a controversial penalty to the opponents which was successfully converted. This goal also snapped a 3-match clean sheet by ARFC. 1-1

Wayne then showed graceful movement by cutting in from the right but his shot hit the cross-bar. Unlucky!

ARFC regained its lead with Jinzhong’s debut goal for ARFC. From Sebastian’s corner on the left, he leaped highest and planted a looping header over their keeper and covering defenders on the goal-line. A worthy and beautiful debut goal for Jinzhong! 2-1

ARFC put the result to bed with virtually the last-kick of the match. Finding himself free in the box, Alvin was really selfless when he did not take a shot and instead released Derrick down the left side of the penalty box. With no defenders chasing him, Derrick took his time and picked his spot for his 81^st ARFC goal. 3-1

These are the voting results:

Derrick – 11

Jinzhong – 9

Darren – 6

Sebastian – 6

Toh – 3

Ron – 2

Hee – 2

ARFC's Liverpool-like display in 4-0 win

In probably the best performance in 2014, ARFC dished out a all-energy, high-intensity performance to easily dismiss Schwarstarz FC 4-0, avenging a previous 1-2 loss to them back on 29 April 2012 at Crescent Girls Sec Sch.

Special credit to Guoxiong for coming to play despite his gruelling 1 pm referee.  Ismail also deserved mention for turning up despite his 6.30 pm flight to Krabi.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Commanding Ismail

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Combative Ron

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren  

Left-mid - Steely Tze Ern  

Centre-mid - Marauding Guoxiong

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon   

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron (captain)

Striker - Unpredictable Blackburn

Subs:

Influential Sebastian (late)

Speedy Hee

Absent:

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Wonder Wayne

Nippy Kenny

Powerful Alvin

Impeccable How Meng

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

With just 277 seconds gone, Derrick was the victim of a brutal boots-up kick from their defender ala Nigel de Jong and suffered a gash on his forehead. With blood streaming down ala Terry Butcher in World Cup 1990, Derrick left the field but not before letting fly a string of profanities in various languages and dialects. Hee then quickly took his place despite still not warmed up, switching flanks with Tze Ern.

Within mins of coming on, Hee immediately earned a penalty. His speed, pun intended, was simply too fast for their right back who chopped him down. Unfortunately, Blackburn was again too casual and he stroked the ball wide!

7 mins later, ARFC was awarded another penalty when Haron was clumsily shoved from behind by the same defender who kicked Derrick earlier. Sebastian beckoned Haron to take the spot-kick and the latter duly obliged by expertly fired the ball into the bottom corner and sending their keeper the wrong way. 1-0 and this was Haron’s 204^th ARFC goal.

Derrick then came back on to replace Blackburn to inject some pace. Moments later, Sebastian too over from Guoxiong at centre mid.

Sebastian too created the same impact as fellow substitute Hee. Sebastian floated in a corner from the right and before Toh came in to connect, everybody was already screaming for a goal. True enough, Toh did not disappoint all and sundry when he rose like Olivier Bierhoff to head the ball home. 2-0 and this was Toh’s 73^rd ARFC goal.

Toh nearly scored another goal just seconds later. Sebastian whipped in a vicious free-kick right into he danger zone at the 6-yard box but Toh just narrowly failed to connect.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC did not let up and continued its pressing and winning virtually all the first and second balls.

ARFC extended its lead 7 mins into the half. Sebastian played in Soon who in turn passed to Haron who was standing at the arch outside the penalty box. Haron flicked the ball with his inside right foot down the right channel in the penalty box. Derrick charged in like Andrei Kanchelskis and hit a jumping volley that sailed diagonally over their keeper. 3-0 and this was Derrick’s 78^th goal.

Ismail then produced a stunning jumping block to keep out a powerful strike from them. 

ARFC put the result to bed in the 77^th min. Derrick robbed their sweeper who was trying to beat him and faced their keeper alone. Needless to say, Derrick simply placed the ball past him for his 79^th ARFC goal. 4-0

Jinzhong then replaced Ismail as goalkeeper.

This is the 3^rd clean sheet in a row for ARFC. This is also the 3^rd successive match that Derrick has scored.

Most significantly, this was a match where ARFC was really dominating and domineering with its intense pressing and closing down. The passing and support was also probably the best in recent times.

Last but not least, kudos to Derrick for continued to play despite his head injury. An example for all warriors to emulate!

These are the voting results:

Derrick – 11

Haron – 7

Tze Ern – 6

Ron – 6

Hee – 4

Toh – 2

Soon – 1

Jinzhong – 1

Darren – 1

Derrick notched his 77th ARFC goal & ARFC's 1600th goal in 2-0 win

Playing in his “official first match” for ARFC, Ismail produced a delicious Man-of-the-Match heroics to inspire ARFC to a commanding 2-0 victory over Brazilian Boys.

Credit to Alvin for turning up to support despite his serious ankle injury.

ARFC only started with 10 warriors in this line-up:

Keeper - Commanding Ismail

Right-back - Indra

Sweeper - Towering Toh

Stopper - Dependable Jinzhong

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren  

Left-mid - Talisman Derrick

Centre-mid - Wonder Wayne

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon   

Right-mid - Nippy Kenny

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron (captain)

Subs:

Influential Sebastian (late)

Speedy Hee (late)

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis (late)

Unpredictable Blackburn (still in toilet when match started)

Absent:

Combative Ron

Marauding Guoxiong

Resolute Jasper

Skillful Weilit

Steely Tze Ern

Powerful Alvin

Impeccable How Meng

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

Jiawei

Playing with just 10 warriors, ARFC was under immerse pressure and had to be indebted to Ismail for preventing ARFC from falling behind. With just 777 seconds gone, Ismail got down sharply to his right ala Pepe Reina to turn their low shot away for a corner. Superb!

Ismail repeated his save but this time round, he got down to his left to again parry the ball away. Fantastic!

Hee then came on as left midfielder. Shortly after, Wayne made way for Sebastian.

ARFC then edged in front. Soon anticipated brilliantly and stole the ball away from the opponent. He passed the ball down to Haron who then flicked a grounder down the right flank for Kenny to run in. Kenny looked up and chipped a gem of a ball to the middle of the 6-yard box. Derrick, playing before his knee surgery, rose like a salmon to nod the ball in ala Miroslav Klose for his 77^th ARFC goal.

1-0 and this was ARFC’s 1600^th goal in its 24-year history.

ARFC doubled its lead with yet another assist from Kenny. Intercepting a ball at the left, Kenny played in a reverse pass for Wayne to break their off-side trap. Wayne showed unparrelled composure to take the ball round their keeper before slotting the ball home into the empty net for his 12^th ARFC goal. 2-0

ARFC was then denied a clear penalty when Hee, well, sped clear of their right-back who then tripped Hee in the box. Unbelievably, the referee failed to spot the foul and instead awarded a foul against Hee!!!

In the 2^nd half, justice was served when Hee was hacked down in the box. Unfortunately, Jinzhong could not break his goal-scoring duck when his ferocious shot landed into row ZZZ.

By now, ARFC was in total command and control. First, Toh headed Blackburn’s corner against the post. Toh then just narrowly failed to connect with another Blackburn’s corner.

Upfront, Kenny, Derrick, Hee, Wayne, Haron and Blackburn were causing too much problems and their defence was totally at seas.

Wayne was then brutally brought down and had to leave the pitch to standing applause from the banglas at the construction site.

At times, the play from left to right was really a joy to watch. Blackburn/Wayne would switch from left to right for Hee who would in turn laid the ball back for either Haron, Kenny or Derrick in the middle.

From such moves, Kenny then thrice fired wide while Haron just missed Kenny’s pass by inches.

However, it was not just all attacking play that caught the eye.

Ismail was quickest to dash out to smoother 2 low balls, while Darren hacked the ball off the line when Ismail was finally beaten.  

Ismail then showed why he was so coveted by famous and world-class clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors, Gamba Osaka and ARFC when he leaped backwards to tip a precise chip that looked to elude him over the bar. World-class save!!!

This is the 2^nd clean sheet in a row for ARFC and credit must be given to Ismail and the entire ARFC defence led by Elvis.

These are the voting results:

Ismail – 11

Darren – 8

Soon – 7

Derrick – 6

Elvis – 3

Hee – 2

Kenny – 1

Jinzhong – 1

Votes Tally as at end of March 2014

Votes Tally as at end of March 2014:

Ron & Toh - 22
Soon - 18
Guoxiong & Alvin - 16
Blackburn & Chun Haw - 13
Kenny, Jinzhong & Weilit - 12
How Meng - 9
Haron - 8
Darren - 6
Hee & Tze Ern - 5
Sebastian & Derrick 4
Jasper - 3
Elvis - 1

Indra nets debut ARFC goal in hard-fought win

In worse than Sahara Desert-like weather, ARFC rounded off the month of March with an emphatic 4-0 victory over TGIK.

Special mention to both Toh and Wayne for coming despite having very little sleep due to QingMing this morning and kt last night. Derrick also deserved a praise for coming to play one half despite having a multi-million renovation deal with the sister of a certain ex-ARFC pioneer warrior.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Ismail

Right-back - Marauding Guoxiong  

Sweeper - Combative Ron

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - YY (not to be confused with Jasper’s girlfriend)

Left-mid - Wonder Wayne

Centre-mid - Nippy Kenny

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon   

Right-mid - Unpredictable Blackburn

Striker - Talisman Derrick

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron (captain)

Subs:

Influential Sebastian (late)

Indra (guest player – also late)

Absent:

Dependable Jinzhong

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Resolute Jasper

Composed Jackson

Unbeatable Darren

Skillful Weilit

Precocious Chun Haw

Speedy Hee

Steely Tze Ern

Powerful Alvin

Impeccable How Meng

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

Jiawei

Derrick was soon rewarded for rushing down to play. From Guoxiong’s pin-point cross from the right, Derrick showed world-class technique to chest the ball down before calmly dispatching the ball past their bewildered keeper. Brilliant cross and shot! 1-0 and this was Derrick’s 76^th ARFC goal.

Guoxiong then made another telling contribution when he hacked the ball off the line from their corner.

Sebastian then came on for Soon who requested to be substituted due to his grueling run last night.

Sebastian then chipped in a long ball over the opponents’ defence for Derrick who could not capitalize.

Mins later, Sebastian repeated the move when his left-foot loft found Derrick racing clear. Derrick squared the ball across goal but Guoxiong shot into row Z.

Indra then came on for Wayne.

Kenny then won a free-kick when he upended just outside the box. Dusting himself off the ground, Kenny’s curling free-kick was just slightly off-target.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC took the lead within 7 mins. Sebastian intercepted a counter-attack move by the opponents just outside the box. Hearing Indra’s call for the ball, Sebastian rolled the ball to him and Indra immediately and immaculately fired the ball with his outside right foot. The sweetly-struck ball hit the right stachion and cannoned into the goal. 2-0 and this was Indra’s debut goal.

ARFC then extended its lead 7 mins later through rather fortuitous circumstances. Blackburn picked up a clearance on the left side and lifted the ball into the 6-yard box. Somehow, the ball sailed over their back-pedalling keeper and netted Blackburn’s 137^th ARFC goal. 3-0

Within seconds, ARFC out the result to bed. Blackburn was again the architect when he played Soon in. Soon ran in from deep and just reached the ball before their charging keeper. Soon lifted the ball over him and though their recovering defender made a last-ditch attempt to clear the ball, he could not keep the ball from crossing the line. 4-0 and this was Soon’s 57^th ARFC goal.

Haron then nearly scored the goal of the match.  Blackburn swung in a laser-sharp cross from the left and Haron readied and steadied himself before flying in with a thumping header. Unfortunately, their keeper made a world-class save to turn the ball over the bar.

Wayne then almost grabbed a goal when Blackburn once again crossed from the left. The ball eluded everyone and Wayne came sliding in but could not get a clean connection and the ball went over the bar. Unlucky!

Toh then came close with 2 thumping headers which flew just wide.

The opponents then tried to lob Ismail but the latter was very alert to keep out the high ball.

Ismail was to produce the save of the match 7 mins later. From a counter-attack, their nippy striker brought the ball into the box but Ismail came charging out like Peter Schmeichel to keep out his low shot. World-class save!

In the dying moments, Sebastian cleared the ball away just as their striker was going to pull the trigger.

These are the voting results:

Soon – 7

Ron – 6

Blackburn – 6

Toh – 5

Guoxiong – 2

Sebastian – 2

Kenny – 1

Derrick – 1