Bangkok Casuals League Div. 1 & 2
Pattaya City had a disappointing result in their Div. 1 match two weeks ago when against Bangkok FC they played out a goalless draw, which did nothing for their championship hopes. The Reserves meanwhile, who played Iplay, looked set for a comfortable win when they took a 3-1 lead, but then gave a sloppy penalty away and let in a late goal to make the final score 3-3.
The big match in the league last weekend took place at the Thai Polo Club when Pattaya City played host to FC Planet, who are also are a Pattaya based team and similarly well placed to win the championship this season. This was a match that both clubs had to win to further their title ambitions and the game started with a bang with two City forwards breaking through with only the keeper to beat, but they were given offside, and immediately Planet responded and had the ball in the City net only for it to be ruled out for offside.
An explosive start to the match, but then both sides settled down with both defences not giving an inch. It would take something special for either side to score but then a seemingly harmless throw from the City keeper found Tshuma on the left and then to Vorontsov whose first time pass to Fotsing saw the latter side foot the ball home to make it 1-0 to City.
This goal initially rocked FC Planet FC and soon after they were lucky to avoid conceding again when Fotsing saw his shot hacked off the goal line with the Planet keeper beaten. The remainder of the first half saw both sides struggling to make further headway however and City went in at the break 1-0 to the good.
FC Planet started the second half in brighter fashion but they were let down but disappointing finishing and at the other end Fotsing had a chance to double City’s lead but chose to pass when well placed just six yards out from the Planet goal. This proved to be a turning point in the match as Planet regrouped and piled the pressure on the City defence, eventually forcing a penalty after the ball was adjudged to have struck a defender’s hand.
The penalty was taken by Planet’s Dean Barrick (who made more than four hundred appearances for Sheffield United) and he struck a crisp and low shot into the corner of the net, giving the City keeper no chance.
With the scores tied, Vorontsov did his best to give City the lead back but after beating three defenders his shot hit the post and rebounded to safety. (City have now hit the woodwork five times in the last four matches).
Back came at the other end came Planet to put the City defence under more pressure and a second penalty was conceded for pushing in the area. This time, however, Barrick’s shot was not as well struck and the City keeper made a brilliant save to keep the scores level.
This was a let off for City but then almost immediately they had a player sent off for a second bookable offence and Planet saw a golden opportunity to push for victory but they were frustrated by a stubborn City rear guard. The game ended in a 1-1 draw which keeps both Pattaya teams in the hunt for the championship.
Pattaya City
Reserves get back to winning ways
Pattaya City Reserves entertained Triumph Masters last weekend after beating them 2-0 earlier in the season. The home team started in confident mood but found the Masters’ keeper in top form until City finally made the breakthrough from a scrambled goal to make it 1-0 and that remained the score at half time.
Within minutes of the restart City went further ahead when Les Clesielski scored after his shot beat the Masters keeper from outside the area. The hosts were then guilty of losing concentration as the Masters went the full length of the field to pull a goal back without a single tackle from a City player being made.
The Pattaya team were able to make amends soon after however as they went further ahead with a goal from Rod Torrie after he latched onto a loose ball from a corner. City continued to put the Masters defence under pressure and two individual goals by Conner O’Callaghan made the final score 5-1 for a well deserved victory.
