Thai Port 1-3 Sriracha, Thai Premier League

Thai Port play at the 12,000 capacity PAT stadium in the Khlong Toei area of Bangkok. This is the poorest district of Bangkok and the fans have a reputation similar to Millwall, no problem with foreigners though. I got to the stadium via the MRT metro system which stopped at Queen Sirikit station. It is a ten minute walk to the ground from there ( use exit 1 to Khlong Toei market ), but I took a motorcycle taxi from outside the station.


Thai Port are known as a cup side and on February 4th they play PEA Buriram (League Champions) in the League Cup Final. They are about halfway in the league but are on a run of four straight wins. Sriracha are struggling at the bottom and even if they won today the likelyhood is they will be relegated. The visitors got off to a positive start when their number 9 raced free from just inside his own half only for the Thai Port keeper to pull off a great save when a low shot along the ground was tipped around the post. The Thai Port defence didn't learn from this and were caught out when the centre forward played in Brazillian striker Aron da Silva with a flicked header. Da Silva did better than his team mate with his low shot. The Brazilian's effort beat the keeper to put Sriracha one goal to the good. Minutes later Da Silva was unmarked and onside in the area to head the visitors two nil up before halftime.


I found out at halftime the Thai Port players hadn't been paid for a month and had refused to play this game until some money came their way. The home side were just as abject in the second half and Sriracha went three goals up soon after the interval. The ball looked like it was going out for a goalkick but somehow a forward managed to keep the ball in and his back heel found a teammate who played the ball across the area for Da Silva to lash the ball in for his hat trick. The home side got a consolation goal near full time when from a corner the Sriracha keeper dropped the ball and Phudit Niamkong had a simple tap in. FT 1-3

Phnom Penh Crown 4-3 Preah Khan Reach, Cambodian Cup

Took a few days out of Thailand to see a couple of games in Cambodia. Met up with my Cambodian Pal who is sports editor for the Phnom Penh Daily. The League season ended in September with Phnom Penh Crown the Champions. I was told this was a pre season competion. All League and Cup games are played at the old National Stadium and games kick off Weds 15.30 and 17.30 and Sat and Sun 14.00 and 16.00. Surprised to see as poor as this country is they still have African nationals plying their trade here. Entry to the stadium is only 50p.


Preah wore a change strip of White as opposed to their usual Green and Crown wore Red shirts. I was allowed to join my friend behind one of the goals to take some photographs. Preah worked their socks off and took a healthy 2-0 lead into the second half. I think the standard of football is equivalent to Blue Square North or South football. The better supported Crown fought back well in the second half and managed to win the game with one of their African forwards scoring three. Didn't fancy the half time refreshments of fried Crickets. At around 4.30pm free entry is allowed for citizens to do their aerobics exercisers on the terracing!

Pattaya United 1-0 Royal Thai Army, Thai Premier League

Not a day ticket but a three week holiday with my son to spend time with his family in Thailand. Very close to the end of the Thai football season, with only a home game against Robbie Fowlers Muangthong United to come for Pattaya. The Pattaya ground is called Nong Prue and is 6km outside of the city. A motorbike taxi is about £1 or you can get on a free mini bus from Reeves Bar, soi 7 opposite Tequilla Reef . Pattaya have had a good season and will finish fifth in a league of eighteen, while the Army side are 13th and safe from relegation. The ground holds 8,000 but the 'Dolphins' usually average 3,000. 


Not much between the sides in a scrappy game, Pattaya just edging it 1-0 thanks to one of their Nigerian strikers. The atmosphere was great though, plenty of singing and support for the home side. Not too many foreigners at the game. Usually there are at least 100, mostly German and English. £2 entry for seating behind the goal and along the popular side, £3 for the VIP covered stand.

Newark Town 1-2 Basford United - CML South

Checked with Traveline and found it is cheaper to travel by train direct to Collingham from Nottingham (£6 day return), rather than go by bus via Newark -£9 return. Newark Town groundshare with Collingham FC and the ground is on Station Road, just 200 yards from the train station.

Newark Town have been based at Collingham for the last six seasons,the village is six miles north of Newark.The ground has floodlights with hard standing behind one goal and along the front of the clubhouse and changing room complex. At present there is cover at the front of the clubhouse and there is a small stand adjacent to the clubhouse.

The home side started the stronger and in the early stages were putting in plenty of crosses to test the Basford defence. On eight minutes Newark's Zico Grinion worked the ball into the Basford area and a low struck effort hit the base of the post before going out for a goalkick. Carl Westcarr should have put Basford ahead against the run of play on fifteen minutes. Basford new boy Darren Garmston won a strong header and Westcarr ran free towards goal but too hard contact with the ball gave the keeper time to clear. After this Basford were more of an attacking force and Courtney Hasting in particular was causing problems for Newark along the right wing.

On twentyseven minutes the Newark keeper pulled off a great reaction save when Westcarr shot from close range and four minutes later with Newark shouting for offside Westcarr had an effort from eighteen yards go wide of the upright. Basford went a goal up on thirtytwo minutes when a superb volley from Cashell Walters thundered into the back of the Newark goal. Garmston was the man who supplied Walters with a fine cross from the right wing. Basford increased the pressure on the home goal and from a corner on thirtyseven minutes the visitors were two goals up. I was slightly unsighted but it looked like Carl Westcarr headed into the net after the keeper had attempted to parry the ball clear from the corner. Newark had time just before halftime to threaten the Basford goal through Zico Grinnion. His low goalbound effort was saved by the diving Andy Fretwell.

From the re start Newark threatened the visitors goal and Ricky Brewer unleashed a rocket of a shot that flew in giving Fretwell no chance from twenty yards out. The Newark pressure continued for a further twenty minutes but the Basford defence held firm. Basford were relying on breakaways with Westcarr and Hastings waiting for the long clearances. Both Westcarr and Hastings created chances but there was little support for them upfront. Newark's Ellison beat the shouts for offside on seventy eight minutes and ran free towards the Basford goal but the full backs shot was well saved by Andy Fretwell. The final ten minutes saw the home side throw caution to the wind to find an equaliser and they should have scored but for a fantastic tip over save from Andy Fretwell from a far post header in the last minute. FT 1-2

Pinxton 2-2 Bilborough Pelican CML South

Pinxton 2-2 Bilborough Pelican
CML South 03/12/11 3pm

Entry £2, £1 concessions, Programme £1 ,Dayticket £4.90

Home made Steak pie, mushy peas and gravy £2 - delicious

Pinxton Blue shirts, Pelican Yellow shirts


Pinxton started like a house on fire, Pelican found the speed of the Pinxton side overwhelming and were reduced to time wasting and constant fouling. The referee was reluctant to use his cards prefering to give endless lectures. Panic was setting in and the Pelican keeper threw the ball out hitting the back of his centre half. A Pinxton forward collected the ball and tried to lob the ball over the keeper and into the net but the ball bounced wide of the upright.

The pressure paid off on eleven minutes when the ball was played to the edge of the area and Jay Coopers low struck effort flew past the helpless Pelican keeper. Pinxton went two up on twenty three minutes when a fine passing move ended with another shot from the edge of the area flying past the keeper, this time from Greg Marriott. Against the run of play Pelican pulled a goal back before halftime. Centre half Foss was the scorer when Pinxton defenders didn't challenge for a high ball played into the area.

The second half began with Pelican the dominant force. The Pinxton supporters were shocked to see Pelican equalise after four minutes when an unmarked Grant Walton was free to shoot home from a quick corner. Minutes later Pinxton cleared the ball off the goal line as Pelicans confidence grew. Pinxton regrouped and brought the game back to the visitors and as the game reached ninety minutes it was Pelicans defence that had to hold firm.

New Life Christians 1-2 Littleover Christians - Derby Church League

New Life Christians 1-2 Littleover Christians
Derby Church League 10.30am

Zigzag Dayticket £4.90

Parkers Piece,City Road, Chester Green, Derby

New Life wearing sky blue and Littleover Orange shirts

Parkers Piece is a four acre sports field adjacent to the river Derwent and gets its name from the famous Parkers Piece at Cambridge University. Previously the old Derby Grammar School used the facilities. There is a public footpath that runs along the riverside which leads to the Darley Fields park.

With the New Life keeper complaining of having the sun in his eyes yours truly gave up his baseball cap and the keeper pulled off a couple of good saves in the early stages. New life were dominating Littleover and it was no surprise when they took the lead on fifteen minutes. The ball was played between two defenders and the New Life number ten raced through and lobbed the onrushing keeper.
Close to halftime New Life were close to going two nil up. From the tightest of angles the ball was chipped over the Littleover keeper, the ball ran across the goal line and the keeper raced back to dive and smother the ball just as a forward raced in.

New Life were getting frustrated and were arguing amongst themselves. They were contesting the refereees decisions and they began to make mistakes. Eleven minutes into the second half the New Life keeper (not wearing my hat) raced off his line to kick the ball clear but made contact with an opposition player. The resulting penalty was hit hard and straight past the goalkeeper. Littleover were encouraged by the goal and for the rest of the game they dominated play. Their reward came with the winning goal with ten minutes remaining. The New Life centre half miss timed his header back to his keeper and a Littleover striker ran on and chipped the keeper from eighteen yards out.

Went to the Coach and Horses nearby after the game and had a wonderful pint of Bass Bitter £3.