FC Phuket beat Phattalung FC, 2-0

PHUKET: FC Phuket rebounded from being bounced out of the Toyota League Cup competition last weekend with a solid 2-0 win at Phatthalung on Sunday.

Phattalung FC came into the pairing in tenth place in the 13-team Division 2 South of the AIS Regional League, while FC Phuket had already clinched the division title.

Both sides came out aggressively, but FC Phuket’s Nene Bi broke the deadlock with a goal at 13 minutes and the Southern Sea Kirin began to control the flow of the game after that. The second goal came at 25 minutes on a rebound shot from Chakrit Rawanprakhone.

Phattalung FC’s efforts to get back in the game were stifled by solid defending in the Phuket backfield and the Southern Sea Kirin held on to beat the Swiftlets 2-0.

The win brings the FC Phuket’s record to 16 wins, four losses and two draws, with a stunning +32 goal differential.

Other results in Division 2 South matches over the weekend: HatYai 1 – 1 Ranong; Phang Nga 2- 1 Chumphon; Surat Thani 6 – 1 Yala; Krabi 2 – 2 Trang; Satun 4 – 2 Nakhon Si Thammarat.

FC Phuket’s last game of the season is a home fixture starting at 6pm on Wednesday against Phang Nga FC.

The battle to see which Division 2 South team will grab second place, earning a spot alongside FC Phuket in the promotional playoffs, will be determined the same night, when all teams play their final matches. Trang could clinch it with a home win against Hat Yai FC.

The top of the points table looks like this going into the matches: Phuket 52; Trang 38; Satun United 37; Surat Thani 36, Ranong 35.

The fixtures are as follows: Trang v HatYai; Pattani v Phattalung; Chumphon v Nakhon Si Thammarat; Krabi v Satun United; Ranong v Surat Thani.

— Stephen Michael Fein