The Division Two (Southern Section) title is within touching distance for FC Phuket after a comfortable 2-0 win against Hat Yai at the Surakul Stadium on Sunday. FC Phuket went into this match brimming with confidence having put together back to back league wins after the surprise loss to Yala.
Safari Nanson replaced the injured Jagked Thamassaen in goal while Sarach Yooyen was absent due to suspension which meant a recall for Kittitach Kraitong. Adisak was once again left on the bench with Diarra Ali supporting 10 in attack. FC Phuket started the match extremely brightly and were unfortunate not to take an early lead when Kittitach Kraitong whipped in an excellent cross which Nithirot Sukuma was unable to convert.
Thawin Butrasombat then had a superb chance to get his name on the scoresheet when the ball fell kindly to him in the six yard box. He attempting to take the ball around the keeper but pushed it too far wide of goal allowing the defender to get back and block his eventual shot.
Just as it seemed Hat Yai had weathered the storm FC Phuket took the lead after 25 minutes through a perfectly executed free kick from Diarra Ali. The Ivory Coast midfielder is in great goalscoring form at present and he simply stroked the ball around the wall and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal from 25 yards.
Hat Yai were offering absolutely zero attacking threat and Nansen simply did not have a save to make although he looked uncharacteristically commanding when claiming a couple of crosses. Diarra Ali almost made it 2-0 a few minutes before half time but his header was well tipped over the bar by the Hat Yai keeper.
Defender Pongsak Panicharoen was replaced by striker Adisak Kraisorn at half time in a move which saw Diarra Ali drop back into central midfield. After a promising start to his FC Phuket career Kraisorn has been out of favour in recent weeks. He had a good goalscoring opportunity early in the second half when he got on the end of a
Diarra Ali free kick but his header bobbled agonizingly wide.
A well worked free kick routine between the two Ivory Coast midfielders almost paid off after 65 minutes. Diarra Ali shaped to shoot but instead passed the ball to Camara who promptly played it back into his path. Diarra Ali then pulled the ball back to give the onrushing Camara an extremely presentable opportunity but he blazed wastefully over the bar.
Fortunately for Camara he would not have to wait too long for another opportunity to present itself. This time he made no mistake providing a composed finish at the end of an intricate series of passes to make the score 2-0 after 75 minutes. There was still time for Camara to create a chance for Thawin Butrasombat but the striker's first touch let him down and allowed the keeper to make the save.
Although the league title is still not a mathematical certainty for the Southern Sea Kirin only a series of extremely improbable results would prevent FC Phuket from finishing first. While manager Arjan Songsamssub is pleased at the progress which is being made he warns that that the play offs will present a very tough test for his fledgling side,
‘We have to win one more game. All the teams in the play offs are very strong so it will be very hard for us. I believe we can do it and I hope we can do it,’ he said.
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