Saturday 14th of January saw GAS take on the reigning champions in PTT Academy at Bangkok Patana. Conditions were perfect. The pitch was in good condition. All was set for a classic encounter. And a classic encounter it was! Action from start to finish.
With the manager opting to revert to a 4-3-3 it was clear we were going for the 3 points. However, it seemed also evident in the first 10 minutes that this was our first game back after the festivities with PTT dominating the match. Moving the ball around extremely well and GAS struggling to put together any sort of rhythm. The pressure inevitably finally told when PTT took the lead after 10 minutes through a very well worked goal. 1-0 PTT. Half way through the first saw GAS give themselves a kick up the backside and began to crawl back into the game. Julian having a glorious opportunity to pull things level when he found himself unmarked at the back post following a fine delivery from the reinstated center back Craig. Though, after 25 minutes GAS did finally find a way to break down their defence – Julian once again involved as he clipped forward an audacious pass over the top, which Yan wonderfully flicked over the onrushing keeper.
1-1. The game was evening up with some hefty (Paul Scholes like) challenges being made by GAS’ new signing Tommy Almond – the front three displaying plenty of work and determination and the back four also standing very strong, with Ronny putting in another fine display and Craig & Dao, the partnership of old, proving they can in fact play together once again. As a result of GAS coming together as a team they found themselves with a freekick on the edge of the box which Dom (Dmitry Payet) Schaufler exquisitely dispatched into the top right corner.
2-1 HT
Second half began with PTT once again moving the ball around extremely though GAS were resilient. Stood strong. Communicated well. Held a superb shape and it was clear to see, we are a group of players who are beginning to gel well under the regime and management of Manager Lush and his counterparts. 10 minutes from time GAS were awarded a penalty after a dancing, solo run from Tommy saw him hacked down. Though it probably was a foul, it seems he was gunning for an Oscar based on his dramatics. Nevertheless, up stepped Dom to coolly dispatch into the bottom left corner. 3-1 GAS.
PTT did keep going and managed to pull a goal back due to misunderstanding with the back line which was uncharacteristic based on the game up to that point, gifting PTT an easy tap in after a failed offside trap. Regardless of this, GAS managed to see the game out and came out 3-2 winners.
A superb all-round performance from everyone involved.
MOM – Michael