The much anticipated local derby clash between Brass Monkey FC and FC Planet took place on November 22 at Horseshoe Point as both sides went into the fixture unbeaten.
The opening stages were tight with both sides matching each other with quick intensity play and only a few half chances created at either end. Planet then began to settle on the ball and were looking the more likelier team to open the scoring as Daouda and Raoul were making surging runs in behind the opposition back line.
FC Planet players pose for a photo after their Bangkok Casuals 1st Division encounter with Brass Monkey FC at Horseshoe Point.
The deadlock was broken midway through the first half as the energetic Raoul showed great work down the right flank to find Gibbons who finished from close range to give the champions a 1-0 lead. This was a platform for Planet to build on and with the deadlock broken the game became more open, with Brass Monkey pressing forward for an equalizer.
Brass were made to pay the price of leaving gaps at the back after Perez picked out Gibbons who stayed onside to finish clinically with his left foot into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0 to Planet.
Brass Monkey kicked off the second half knowing that a lot of hard work was required if they were to get anything from a well organized Planet side. Injured player-manager Homer made a couple of changes to his back line, bringing on Rawding and new signing Crush to give Planet more height and strength.
It was a similar second period for Brass Monkey who were missing a cutting edge up front, with most efforts at goal smothered comfortably by Planet stopper Hughes. The contest was taken out of reach for the home team after the menacing McKeown found Ainscough with an inch perfect pass across the face of the Brass Monkey goal for the midfielder to finish coolly first time to make it 3-0.
A well earned victory was on the way for Planet who were looking dangerous on the break and looking for another as their wide men were constantly finding space in the final third. Ainscough attacked the left line well and spotted the oncoming Gibbons in a dangerous position with an exquisite pass for the frontman to take one touch before blasting a right footer low into the left corner for his fourth hat-trick in five outings.
Credit to Brass Monkey who nicked a late consolation with a neat finish low past the Planet keeper to make the final score 4-1. FC Planet though had who shown what champions are made of and this well controlled performance against tough opposition helped maintain their blistering form in the Bangkok Casuals league’s top division.
(Next up for FC Planet is a repeat fixture against Brass Monkey FC in a cup group match on Tuesday 9th December at Laem Chabang. Kick-off 7:30 p.m.
