FC Phuket 2-0 Trang

FC Phuket strengthened their grip on the Division Two (Southern section) title with a hard fought 2-0 win over second placed Trang on Saturday. FC Phuket were two points ahead of Trang with a game in hand going into the game at the Surakul Stadium, the first at home since the mid season break.

Goalkeeper Safari Nelson was surprisingly recalled to the starting line up at the expense of Jagkid Thamassaen while there was also a home debut for striker Thawin Butrasombat. The first half was uneventful with FC Phuket dominating possession but unable to find the breakthrough against a resolute Trang defence.

Butrasombat looked lively and provides a much needed physical presence up front but saw his best effort of the half blocked by a last ditch tackle. The closest FC Phuket came to unlocking the Trang defence was when Nithirot Sukuma got to the left byline and pulled the ball back for teenage midfielder Srach Yooyen who was unable to get good contact on his shot.

Sarach Yooten had the best chance of the half but scuffed his shot after good work down the left wing from Nithirot Sukuma. The second half began with a series of FC Phuket corners and the breakthrough finally came in the 50th minute when a clearance fell to Camara Ahmed who found the top corner of the net from 25 yards.

Teenage striker Adisak Kraisorn did manage to get behind the Trang backline on a couple of occasions but was beaten to the ball by the keeper both times. FC Phuket continued to press and added a second in the 75th minute when Nene Bi rose highest to meet a long range free kick with a header which beat the Trang keeper at the near post

Safari Nelson was the first choice goalkeeper for FC Phuekt last season but did not look particularly convincing. He almost gifted Trang a goal, completely misjudging the flight of a long ball and was fortunate to see a defender clear the ball from the line. A 2-0 win was little more than FC Phuket deserved and manager Arjan Songsamssub pronounced himself well pleased with the performance,

‘I am very happy because Trang were the second placed team and if they had won they would have overtaken us. The new players are just starting to learn the system and how we play the game but I think they will fit in well. Camara’s long shot was beautiful and it was his first ever goal for FC Phuket,’ he said.