PHUKET: Second position on the ladder was Phuket FC's reward for a scintillating 3-1 victory over Bangkok FC at the island team's Phuket City home ground last night.
An alcohol ban also transformed Surakul Stadium from a ground for losers to a ground for winners. But the crowd of 3000 fans were not sure whether winning games was quite as effective a drug as beer.
Had Phuket FC lost, would we have seen the first non-alcohol affected riot?
We may never know, because from the first goal at the 40-minute mark, it was a night for Phuket fans to celebrate . . . with cheering, not beering.
Complaints about the alcohol ban are certain to be lodged by fan clubs, by in-ground vendors, and by the small Phuket FC shop around the corner outside the arena that has also been affected.
The victory put Phuket FC in a promotional spot at second on the Division One ladder, but whether they stay there depends on the results of more matches today.
It remained a nice feeling, though, for the management team now guiding Phuket to its third attempt at rising to Premier league, a position many fans see as the island's rightful place in the Thai football hierarchy.
Last night there was certainly evidence that Phuket deserved better, with Anusak Laosanthai cracking home goals at the 40-minute and 42-minute marks to give Phuket a 2-0 lead by halftime.
Bangkok bounced back with a response after 55 minutes, bringing the crowd to life once more.
But Phuket was not prepared to even consider the suggestion that they could be caught.
A goal at 60 minutes from import Cristian Alex Da Silva Santos sealed it and gave the fans an alcohol free ''high'' for the next 30 minutes.
There's no doubt the link between drinking and losing has been associated with bad off-field performances at home on Phuket in the past.
The island fans can become unruly and have been known to pen referees on the field or to demand the instant resignation of a coach.
Winning, of course, is the perfect antidote to all that.
Next up Phuket FC meets Chiang Nai FC away on April 20.
An alcohol ban also transformed Surakul Stadium from a ground for losers to a ground for winners. But the crowd of 3000 fans were not sure whether winning games was quite as effective a drug as beer.
Had Phuket FC lost, would we have seen the first non-alcohol affected riot?
We may never know, because from the first goal at the 40-minute mark, it was a night for Phuket fans to celebrate . . . with cheering, not beering.
Complaints about the alcohol ban are certain to be lodged by fan clubs, by in-ground vendors, and by the small Phuket FC shop around the corner outside the arena that has also been affected.
The victory put Phuket FC in a promotional spot at second on the Division One ladder, but whether they stay there depends on the results of more matches today.
It remained a nice feeling, though, for the management team now guiding Phuket to its third attempt at rising to Premier league, a position many fans see as the island's rightful place in the Thai football hierarchy.
Last night there was certainly evidence that Phuket deserved better, with Anusak Laosanthai cracking home goals at the 40-minute and 42-minute marks to give Phuket a 2-0 lead by halftime.
Bangkok bounced back with a response after 55 minutes, bringing the crowd to life once more.
But Phuket was not prepared to even consider the suggestion that they could be caught.
A goal at 60 minutes from import Cristian Alex Da Silva Santos sealed it and gave the fans an alcohol free ''high'' for the next 30 minutes.
There's no doubt the link between drinking and losing has been associated with bad off-field performances at home on Phuket in the past.
The island fans can become unruly and have been known to pen referees on the field or to demand the instant resignation of a coach.
Winning, of course, is the perfect antidote to all that.
Next up Phuket FC meets Chiang Nai FC away on April 20.
I take it your happy with the so called beer ban? if you had bothered to even go to the game you would have noticed that many many people still had a beer or 2.
You have turned a sporting post into a beer bashing post for some reason!
The team played brilliantly and it was possibly the best a Phuket fc team has ever played in a very very entertaining game with Bangkok FC playing a very willing and exciting part. There were so many positives and worthy moments of action that it is such a shame you have turned the match report into your little beer bashing article that does nothing at all to congratulate the owners, the coaches and the players on what was a great win and performance that is against a serious fellow promotion rival.
Please remember that the fans of Phuket FC only get the occasional English match reports and it would be nice to have some kind of match report as well as your personal rants thank you.
W.A.M.P
Posted by Hulkster on April 7, 2014 18:12
Editor Comment:
You seem to have missed the first paragraph and the key paragraphs in the match report, Hulkster. We'll repeat them, just for you:
''Second position on the ladder was Phuket FC's reward for a scintillating 3-1 victory over Bangkok FC at the island team's Phuket City home ground last night.
(no mention of beer.)
''The victory put Phuket FC in a promotional spot at second on the Division One ladder, but whether they stay there depends on the results of more matches today.
(no mention of beer)
''It remained a nice feeling, though, for the management team now guiding Phuket to its third attempt at rising to Premier league, a position many fans see as the island's rightful place in the Thai football hierarchy.
(no mention of beer)
''Last night there was certainly evidence that Phuket deserved better, with Anusak Laosanthai cracking home goals at the 40-minute and 42-minute marks to give Phuket a 2-0 lead by halftime.''
{no mention of beer}
There is also no beer to be seen in the large Photo Album, which like the article, comes to you at no cost.
The beer ban is. however, news to most readers.
Provide us with a timely, sober report close to the final whistle and we'll happily carry your kick by kick accounts.