Sisaket Women FC is the female team representing Sisaket Provincial Sports School. It is unclear when the club was formed, but they competed in the Thai League from the 2022-23 season.
The school offers full time education as well as sport, with a wide range of facilities, which includes an artificial pitch with a raised stand as well as Vi Sommet Stadium with a turf pitch, which is usually used for league games.
The team finished in midtable in their debut season, with Somying Intaragomhang in charge of the team for the 2023-24 campaign.
Sisaket Women FC will play in Thai League 2 in the 2024-25 season.
My visits
Sisaket Women 1 BRU Burirat Academy 0 (Friday 3rd May 2024) Thai Women’s League 2 (att: c25)
This was only my third proper women’s game and one that I thoroughly enjoyed as both sides displayed technical ability and skill in the testing conditions. The side in fifth place prevailing against their bottom of the table opponents from Buriram.
I’ll be honest, women’s football is not something that I would usually rush to, but with options sparse once that T3 and the semipro league has finished in these parts, it seemed like a good opportunity to visit a new venue and catch up with my mate John. Note to self: put away unconscious bias and return when possible.
Thais are not generally physically big people, which possibly explains why their teams never perform at the biggest events, but what they lacked in stature they certainly made up for in tactical sense, and full-blooded commitment.
The ground, over the road from Sisaket United’s Sri Nakhon Lamduang Stadium had little shade but we manage to grab a position in front of the changing rooms to avoid the sun. There are a few steps of open terrace either side of this. An artificial pitch at the other side of the complex has an excellent raised covered stand.
The grass was quite long, probably to protect the surface from the drought conditions in the region of late. It possibly slowed the game down, but that was no bad thing. Referee Anantip Phopan sensibly halted proceedings for short water breaks every ten minutes after the 4pm kick off.
If only we had taken water. John said that there was a pop-up stall when he previously went to a game, but it wasn’t there this time. And a local shop on the edge of the campus was closed, with the school on its summer break.
No goals in the first half, but the hosts soon asserted their authority on proceedings after the break. Visiting goalie Chanikan Homhuanl was the busier of the two stoppers and did a decent job until she fumbled a low cross. The resulting effort was scrambled off the line.
The deadlock was broken by a goal of the highest quality. A short corner was played to Pornthipa Thonglue on the angle of the penalty area. She cut inside past her marker and struck a swerving shot into the far top corner which had Chanikan grasping thin air with twenty minutes remaining.
Burirat staged a comeback of sorts and exerted some pressure on the Sisaket defence, but they held firm for the three points. I genuinely enjoyed the game and the way that it was played without the histrionics of the men’s game. Great value for money too with free admission.
I’d gone to Sisaket on the train from Kanthararom and stopped for a coffee before meeting my mate in the ever excellent Hong Kong Garden for excellent food, a shandy and some live rugby league from Australia on the big screen. The match being played on a Friday being perfect for me and my after-game plans.
Local bar and restaurant Leo’s have a beer buffet each Friday. Nine taps, including Guinness, Caffreys, Belgian and Spanish brews, for 599 baht per person for two hours. That’s £13 in UK money. Amazing value when a Guiness is normally 250 baht a pint, still cheaper than most Thai establishments.
I declared on 5 Guiness and 1 Caffreys after my allotted time, which seem to startle the young staff more accustomed to Thais sipping away. My regular driver Uan took me home for a nightcap and a good kip. Another wonderful day in paradise.
Sisaket Women 0 Nakhon Sawan Women 2 (Sunday 23rd June 2024) Thai Women's League 2 (att: c40)
After a break visiting Bangkok and some blank weeks, I had a second opportunity to head to cheer on the local women, again with John and we were joined by Gary who came through from Buriram. We were treated to a very decent game.
The visitors from the off looked more physically adept in the showery conditions and played some lovely football with Thanyarat Butrobon the outstanding players linking midfield and attack. A fine move broke the deadlock midway through the half through Rungnapa Tonthuen.
At the break Gary and I went on a long walk around the large campus trying to find conveniences, and seeing a game on the artificial pitch which had an excellent stand. We returned just as Phichayaphon Ainthong fired over keeper Chunchanok Watsuwan a couple of minutes into the second half.
We had mused that the small goalie often took up a position off her line and was ripe for being lobbed. It was no surprise that visiting coach Monchai Punyubeksa had instructed his troops to try more efforts on goal. After that the hosts, who played OK all afternoon, put together a spell of pressure.
Skipper, Pornthipa Thonglue had impressed on our previous outing, and again used her physical presence with several long-range efforts, one that came back off the Nakhon Sawan bar with their custodian, Witchakon Thammachak well beaten.
Post match Gary and I headed to his hotel before having a questionable pint in Craft and Cold as well as sample, which my mate described as something more suitable for an NHS patient before we adjourned to Leo’s for a long chinwag, lots of beer and food, later in the company of mine host Luke. A lovely Sunday outing.
No comments:
Post a Comment