FC Phuket down Surat Thani, 2-0
PHUKET: FC Phuket went into the mid-season break on a high note, defeating the Surat Thani Roosters 2-0 at Surakul Stadium on Saturday.
Despite the absence of influential Ivory Coast midfielder Diarra Ali, the Southern Sea Kirin put on another solid performance.
Both sides struggled to find rhythm early in the game, but FC Phuket eventually took the lead in the 23rd minute when Surat Thani failed to clear a corner and central defender Ronnachai Jinaket cut the ball back from the touchline to Poramat Krongborisut, who volleyed it into the far corner of the goal.
A bad-tempered game got worse in the second half, with play repeatedly stopped by whistles. To the delight of some 3,000 FC Phuket fans in attendance, Surat Thani midfielder Prakij Kobwattanakul was shown a second yellow card in the 67th minute for kicking out at Poramat Krongborisut.
Any doubts about the outcome of the match after that were swiftly dispelled when local lad Kittithach Kraithong added the decisive second goal, bending the ball past the Surat Thani keeper into the top left hand corner of the net after a feed from Poramat.
Moments later, the Surat Thani players left the field to protest what they claimed was inadequate lighting. After a lengthy delay – and much heckling from the partisan crowd –the referee ordered play to continue.
Despite the dismissal of the 17-year-old FC Phuket winger Sarach Yooyen late in the game, FC Phuket held on to maintain their perfect home record, boosting their confidence going into the remainder of the season, which resumes next month.
The win puts Phuket in second place with 22 points, a single point behind leaders Trang FC, who beat Ranong FC 3-1 on the road.
Other Division 2 South matches played over the weekend:
Yala FC 0 – Krabi FC 1; Satun United 2 – Phang Nga FC 0; Pattani FC 1 – Hatyai FC 1; Nakhon Sri Thammart FC 0 – Phattalung FC 1.
For a comprehensive match report pick up the next issue of the Phuket Gazette, available at newsstands all over the island.
— James Goyder & Kazi Hans
