Day 2, Tuesday 2 April, PAT Stadium, Klong Toei
In Between the Lines....... For the second time in three days we are out again for a football game and late afternoon will do. I'm not planning to put pressure on Katoon after all the driving she's done but traffic aside the venue for tonight at PAT Stadium is just 8 or so kilometres from Bangkok Railway Station at Hua Lamphong. The best way to reach the station is via Klong Toei past the stadium. Fortunately we have left ourselves with enough time to press on and reach Hua Lamphong with over 2 hours to spare. That gives me at least 30 minutes at the station. During this time there is activity as two commuter trains depart and one arrives. This is more than enough to keep my YouTube Channel alive. Destinations from this station include services on the North, Northeastern and Eastern lines that are not long-distance services. Chachoengsao and Kaeng Khoi are the departures with a train arriving from Kabin Buri. Now we must get to the stadium but I've spent more time at the station than was intended and know that west-east along the way we came is much busier.
As we continue back, our arrival time is not perfect showing 40 minutes before kick-off but the situation eases as we are able to park up without delay. At PAT stadium there should be no huge queue for tickets as the visiting team is not the most fashionable. We get time enough to buy food, and a burger is more than welcome and there's no need to take food into the stadium.
Port PC vs Sukhothai FC....... Sukhothai is one of only two stadiums in the TPL where I've yet to see a football game but I've actually visited the stadium when a fixture was cancelled. I'm not sure, but believe I've never seen Sukhothai FC play before. Port FC are a solid third in the table but Sukhothai although 11th out of 16 teams need the points. The table at the bottom is tight and Sukhothai are certainly not safe. On paper Port should easily win this game and have a good goal scoring record.
The game kicks off at 7.00 pm but neither team settles. Chances are few but Port manage to take the lead in the 40th minute. A cross from the left wing is nodded on finding Pathompon Charoenrattanapirom who turns and hooks the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area. From this point Port should settle their nerves but Sukhothai are playing to their strengths and are well-organised. It's 1 : 0 at half time and the crowd expects he home team to press on from here. However, the game develops into a stalemate and a casual observer might say this game is boring but Sukhothai are not going to lie down and with neither team exerting pressure this game peters out with no further score. Port takes the 3 points but it was a struggle. The team I'm told was not up to full strength. Remember that mid-weeks games are rare in the Thai Premier League but the following week there are no fixtures for most teams due to the FA Cup. Neither team here is involved.
Returning to the residence from PAT Stadium is quite easy although the tollway fees make it more expensive for us from where we are located. Tomorrow there promises to be more action.
In Between the Lines....... For the second time in three days we are out again for a football game and late afternoon will do. I'm not planning to put pressure on Katoon after all the driving she's done but traffic aside the venue for tonight at PAT Stadium is just 8 or so kilometres from Bangkok Railway Station at Hua Lamphong. The best way to reach the station is via Klong Toei past the stadium. Fortunately we have left ourselves with enough time to press on and reach Hua Lamphong with over 2 hours to spare. That gives me at least 30 minutes at the station. During this time there is activity as two commuter trains depart and one arrives. This is more than enough to keep my YouTube Channel alive. Destinations from this station include services on the North, Northeastern and Eastern lines that are not long-distance services. Chachoengsao and Kaeng Khoi are the departures with a train arriving from Kabin Buri. Now we must get to the stadium but I've spent more time at the station than was intended and know that west-east along the way we came is much busier.
As we continue back, our arrival time is not perfect showing 40 minutes before kick-off but the situation eases as we are able to park up without delay. At PAT stadium there should be no huge queue for tickets as the visiting team is not the most fashionable. We get time enough to buy food, and a burger is more than welcome and there's no need to take food into the stadium.
Port PC vs Sukhothai FC....... Sukhothai is one of only two stadiums in the TPL where I've yet to see a football game but I've actually visited the stadium when a fixture was cancelled. I'm not sure, but believe I've never seen Sukhothai FC play before. Port FC are a solid third in the table but Sukhothai although 11th out of 16 teams need the points. The table at the bottom is tight and Sukhothai are certainly not safe. On paper Port should easily win this game and have a good goal scoring record.
The game kicks off at 7.00 pm but neither team settles. Chances are few but Port manage to take the lead in the 40th minute. A cross from the left wing is nodded on finding Pathompon Charoenrattanapirom who turns and hooks the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area. From this point Port should settle their nerves but Sukhothai are playing to their strengths and are well-organised. It's 1 : 0 at half time and the crowd expects he home team to press on from here. However, the game develops into a stalemate and a casual observer might say this game is boring but Sukhothai are not going to lie down and with neither team exerting pressure this game peters out with no further score. Port takes the 3 points but it was a struggle. The team I'm told was not up to full strength. Remember that mid-weeks games are rare in the Thai Premier League but the following week there are no fixtures for most teams due to the FA Cup. Neither team here is involved.
Returning to the residence from PAT Stadium is quite easy although the tollway fees make it more expensive for us from where we are located. Tomorrow there promises to be more action.
Bangkok Metropolis
Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), Rong Muang, Pathum Wan
PAT Stadium (home of Port FC), Khlong Toei