ARFC's new jerseys could not inspire victory

Beginning the year on a cool and breezy afternoon, ARFC could not celebrate its brand-new jerseys as it could only eke out a 1-1 draw against New Squad FC at the poor Crescent Girls SS pitch.

 

ARFC was supported by Yanxiu and Melissa, wife of Huiming and Hee respectively.

 

ARFC started with this line-up:

 

Jersey no.	Position	Name
45	Goalkeeper	Commanding Ismail
20	Sweeper	Composed Eng Lai
77	Stopper	Dependable Jinzhong
18	Right-back	Determined Huiming
31	Left-back	Vintage Chua
16	Right-mid	Marauding Guoxiong
2	Left-mid	Unpredictable Blackburn
4	Centre-mid	Dynamic Soon
28	Centre-mid	Hard-man Tjioe
9	Striker	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
66	Striker	Wonder Wayne
Subs:
3		Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
5		Impeccable How Meng
7		Influential Sebastian
11		Speedy Hee
14		Combative Ron
15		Towering Toh
33		Talisman Derrick
99		Powerful Alvin
Absent:
6		Unbeatable Darren
8		Talented Chun Haw
10		Sublime Khim
17		Nippy Kenny
19		Skillful Weilit
21		Rampaging Raymond
78		Steely Tze Ern

 

ARFC started with some hesitant football and Eng Lai and Jinzhong came to the rescue with a couple of vital blocks.

 

Guoxiong then did well down the right flank but his superb cross was not met by any warrior.

 

ARFC then conceded a break-away goal. 0-1

 

ARFC equalised courtesy of a sublime chip pass ala Glenn Hoddle by Sebastian. After winning possession, Sebastian lifted the ball just over the head of their right-back and Alvin gleefully powered into the box and faced their keeper alone. The end result was never in doubt as Alvin duly placed the ball past their keeper for his 274^th ARFC goal. 1-1

 

Toh then just narrowly failed to connect with a dizzling corner from Sebastian.

 

In the 2^nd half, ARFC continued to create chances. First, Jinzhong’s floated ball into the box found How Meng’s head but his header was somehow kept out by their keeper. How Meng followed up but his hooked ball just went over the bar.

 

Sebastian then released Alvin down the left with a Xavi-like no-look pass. Alvin’s left-foot square ball across goal was parried by their keeper. Wayne followed up but his shot was blocked by their defender and cleared to safety.

 

Haron then won several headers and fouls but ARFC did not capitalise.

 

Sebastian then curled a free-kick to the top left corner and was prepared to celebrate his 100^th goal for ARFC.  However and somewhat miraculously, their keeper flew across goal and clawed the ball to safety, a save akin to Gordon bank’s save against Pele in World Cup 1970.

 

Hee was a monster at left-mid and was winning every first and second ball.

 

ARFC pressed on but could not get a winner. 1-1 was probably a fair result.

 

Credit to the opponents too for graciously allowing ARFC to put in another player after Blackburn’s sending-off.

 

 

 

Round-up for 2015

Dear ARFC warriors


The year 2015 saw the return of one of the pioneer ARFC warriors, Huiming, to the team. For the benefit of the newer warriors, Huiming is one of the hardest working defender in ARFC though he is 44 years old now. Once he decides to stick to an opponent, he will pursue the opponent till the end of the world.


2015 also saw the return of Eng Lai who played for ARFC for a few years back in our ITE AMK homeground days.  Recently retired gloriously from the Singapore Police Force, the 51 year-old Eng Lai brings to the team a sense of calmness and serenity.


ARFC also added Raymond and Chua to the team in 2015.  Raymond guest-starred for ARFC on a few occasions and his tenacity and hardwork is second to none. His right-wing play was also almost the same standard as the Derrick (before his knee operation).


51 year-old Chua played like as though he is only 21 years old. I knew Chua from our previous VSC days where his reading, speed and tackling was power.


On behalf of ARFC, welcome all 4 to the team.


The stats for ARFC in 2015 read:


Played 32, Won 19, drew 6 and lost 7. We scored 105 goals while conceded 71 goals.


The goal-scorers in 2015 were:


Alvin - 25
Kenny - 16
Haron - 9
Chun Haw - 6
Toh - 6
Soon - 5
Jinzhong - 4
Sebastian - 4
Khim - 3
Blackburn - 3
Tze Ern - 3
Guoxiong - 2
How Meng - 2
Wayne - 2
Hee - 2
Weilit - 2
Ron - 1
Tjioe - 1
Raymond - 1


I also want to pay credit to our defenders who had largely performed way beyond expectations. Special mention must be given to both Darren and Elvis who always stayed behind and did not join the attack (hence they did not score any goals in 2015).  Ismail, too, for coming up with some top-draw world-class saves.


Last but not least, huge appreciation to Derrick for always coming down for matches even when he had just recovered from his knee operations. Significantly, he always gamely stand in as GK and had in fact made some crucial saves including some penalties.


Have a happy and blessed 2016!

ARFC in 0-7 debacle on Boxing Day

Playing on Boxing Day, ARFC was totally out-boxed by TeamCuzz 0-7.


ARFC started with this line-up:


Keeper – Talisman Derrick
Right-back – Vintage Chua
Sweeper – Composed Eng Lai
Stopper - Determined Huiming
Left-back - Unbeatable Darren
Left mid – Steely Tze Ern
Right mid – Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid - Combative Ron
Centre-mid – Influential Sebastian (captain)
Striker – Speedy Hee
Striker – ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
 

Subs:

 

Talented Chun Haw (late)
Skilful Weilit (late)
Unpredictable Blackburn (late)
 

Absent:

 

Impeccable How Meng
Nippy Kenny
Powerful Alvin
Hard-man Tjioe
Marauding Guoxiong
Towering Toh

Sublime Khim
Wonder Wayne
Dependable Jinzhong
Rampaging Raymond
Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Commanding Ismail

 

ARFC was severely hit by the last-min withdrawals of Ismail, How Meng and Alvin. 
 

ARFC soon found itself 0-3 down.


Hee nearly pulled a goal back after Soon stole the ball away from their midfielder and passed to Hee. From nearly 41.11 metres out, Hee lofted the ball over their keeper but unfortunately, the ball struck the cross-bar.


ARFC then conceded 2 more goals to trail 0-5 at half-time.


In the 2^nd half, ARFC played so much better but still conceded 2 more goals. 0-7


ARFC then nearly pulled a goal back. From Tze Ern’s superb left-wing cross, Hee leaped highest to beat their tall defender but could only sent the ball just 0.11 mm above the bar.

 

ARFC in unlucky 1-2 defeat

After 3 wins on the trot, ARFc came crashing down to earth after an undeserved 1-2 loss to Great FC.

 

Sebastian made his return after a long hiatus due to his vertigo sickness.

 

ARFC started with this line-up:

 

Keeper – Talisman Derrick

Right-back – Vintage Chua

Sweeper – Combative Ron

Stopper - Towering Toh (captain)

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left mid – Unpredictable Blackburn

Right mid – Marauding Guoxiong

Centre-mid - Steely Tze Ern

Centre-mid – Hard-man Tjioe

Striker – Powerful Alvin

Striker – Nippy Kenny

 

Subs:

 

Talented Chun Haw

Skilful Weilit

Dynamic Soon

Influential Sebastian

Composed Eng Lai

Impeccable How Meng

 

Absent:

 

Speedy Hee

Sublime Khim

Wonder Wayne

Dependable Jinzhong

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Rampaging Raymond

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Determined Huiming

Commanding Ismail

 

Both teams were evenly matched in the opening exchanges. Particularly, Chua was very impressive with several vital interceptions.

 

ARFC conceded a penalty in the 20^th min. However, Derrick proved to be a specialist penalty-stopper when he spread low, stuck out his left leg to deflect the ball away for a corner.  Simply world-class penalty save!

 

Toh then stuck the crossbar after connecting beautifully from Alvin’s corner. Unlucky!

 

ARFC then conceded a goal. 0-1

From the re-start point, Kenny unleashed a high dipping ball that struck the cross-bar! Super unlucky!

 

Derrick then kept ARFC in the match when he again produced a brilliant diving save to deny their impressive midfielder.

 

In the 2^nd half, ARFC pressed for an equaliser and Chun Haw was brought down several times in crucial positions. However, free-kicks from Blackburn and Sebastian proved unsuccessful.

 

ARFC then conceded another goal from a corner. 0-2

 

ARFC did not give up and instead had the upper hand in the closing stages.

 

From Sebastian’s free-kick, Toh flicked the ball backwards to the far post and How Meng dashed in from deep to head home his 8^th ARFC goal. 1-2

 

Alvin then came close with an equaliser in the dying seconds but his left-foot shot was turned away for a corner.

 

Despite the loss, ARFC played very well and there were several instances when ARFC played beautiful passing and one-touch football. Kudos!

 

 

 

Khim inspired ARFC's 3-1 victory

ARFC chalked up its 3 successive wins in as many matches when it came from behind to defeat One Utd FC 3-1 at Naval Base SS.
 

ARFC started with this 10-man line-up:

 

Keeper – Talisman Derrick
Right-back – Vintage Chua
Sweeper – Composed Eng Lai
Stopper - Towering Toh (captain)
Left-back - Unbeatable Darren
Left mid – Sublime Khim
Right mid – Marauding Guoxiong
Centre-mid - Unpredictable Blackburn
Centre-mid – Combative Ron
Striker – Speedy Hee 


Subs (all late):

 
Powerful Alvin
Talented Chun Haw
Skilful Weilit
Steely Tze Ern 


Absent:

 
Wonder Wayne
Hard-man Tjioe
Dynamic Soon
Influential Sebastian
Dependable Jinzhong
ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Rampaging Raymond
Nippy Kenny
Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Determined Huiming
Commanding Ismail
Impeccable How Meng 


With just 10 aging warriors playing, it was no surprise that the opponents took the lead. 0-1


In the 2^nd half, ARFC finally showed its true colours.


In the 50^th min, Guoxiong, who has been playing like Andrei Kanchelski in recent times, looked up and saw Alvin making a run to the center. Within 10 milli-seconds, a high precise ball was crossed over. With 2 defender to beat, Alvin jumped 10 mm above the first defender and flicked the ball over the second, leaving Khim free on the left.  Within 10 steps, Khim run out of air but still somehow managed to whack hard with his left foot for his 53^rd ARFC goal. 1-1


Galvanised by the equaliser, ARFC pushed forward and was rewarded 10 mins later.  From yet another missile long throw from Darren, Alvin dashed to the left corner, knowing fully well that there is no offside for throw in.  Alvin got the ball, cut inwards a little and delivered an outrageous, out-of-the-world "banana scooloo shot" that curve around the keeper, hit the right side pole before spinning into the net.  The Indian field keeper was complaining there was hairline crack found on the goal pole after the match. 2-1 and this was Alvin’s 272^nd ARFC goal.


ARFC then put the result to bed 10 mins later.  Blackburn floated his corner towards the penalty box. Khim jumped and headed the ball towards the left bottom corner. Their GK made a 10/10 perfect save but Alvin cheong in with a power shot that even Mohamad Izwan can't handle that shot even if he was there. 3-1 and this was Alvin’s 273^rd ARFC goal.