29th September 2022 - 18:30pm Thailand / 12:30pm BST / 11:30am GMT - Friendly Match
With the threat of Typhoon Noru imminent our next fixture looked in jeopardy and with an historic Chang FA Cup game due to be played on the 5th October a friendly was hastily arranged to keep the squad match fit and also the opportunity to look at some trialists. Our opponents for this fixture would be Nongkhae Police who had excelled earlier on in the season reaching the semi finals of the TA tournament.
Futera United kicked off with four trialists in the starting eleven, Pond in goal, Poom at left back, Bush on the right wing and Noppo in the centre-forward role. A cagey opening saw both sides failing to keep hold of the ball and create any decent chances. A Jew header crashed against the bar but was flagged offside and after neat build up play Bank fired inches past the far post. At just seventeen Pond in goal looked confident and assured and Noppo was a constant threat to the Police back four. A disappointing first third petered out with neither side able to take control in a game littered with misplaced passes and pointless fouls.
Futera made numerous changes for the start of the second third but the game followed the same pattern as the first third, with a lack of real quality and composure. Futera came closest to opening the scoring when a fine near post corner from Don was met by a glancing Kao header that flew over the bar. Although Futera continued to dominate possession they were unable to fashion any clear cut chances. With the second third drawing to a close a deep cross from Kao was met by an acrobatic volley from Art that sailed past the post. The second third finished with the scores locked at 0-0.
The final third began with both teams looking tired and the game became stretched. The game finally came to life in the 68th minute when after good build up play the Police striker fired home a low drive into the bottom corner past Film’s despairing dive. From the restart the ball was played out to the overlapping Pang and his teasing cross was inadvertently put into his own net by the Police centre-back, under pressure from Phu, to make the score 1-1. In the closing stages Kao almost won it for Futera but his thunderous drive from fully 30 yards sailed inches over the bar. The final whistle followed shortly with the spoils shared at 1-1.
Overall a rather disappointing, insipid game but the object was to keep the teams fitness levels up and to have a look at the trialists. Young Pond in goal had a solid performance, huge physical presence and very vocal, he was neat and tidy in his handling and distribution and at just seventeen he is definitely one for the future. At left back Poom didn’t really have a lot to do defensively and played it quite cautiously going forward. Bank and Noppo up front both looked lively and their pace was a constant threat to the Police back four. Difficult to judge these trialists after this game and would like to see them involved in another fixture. A friendly game that lacked any real intensity, Futera have bigger fish to fry as they enter the closing stages of what could be a monumental debut season in this incredible journey.