After last week's "good" turn-out, the Farangutan  squad found itself rather short in numbers for this game, a situation exacerbated by Wit's eleventh hour withdrawal from the team, due to bureaucratic intervention of the worst kind. Commiserations then to Wit for having to sit out this fixture, but what a match it was.

Both sides struggled early on to adjust to a surface that was dry and without grass in many areas. The wind did not help the players to control a ball that was bouncing very high, but it was the Farangs who were the first to bring the ball down and start playing on the ground. With the reliable defensive duo of Lee and Warren dealing comfortably with Issan's hopeful long balls, the Farangs began to attack in numbers. The makeshift central midfield pairing of Brian and Adam began to find their range, and with striker Mick Davies dropping deep to link up the play, it began to look like the home defence would struggle to cope with some neat interplay and the forward probings of Brian and Wayne.

And so it was that Farangutan FC took the lead midway through the first half. Their persistent pressure was rewarded with a corner from the right, and Mick Davies, anticipating a wind assisted outward swinging kick, stunned the hosts with a powerful header from a full 17 yards. Rare enough to score a header from that range, let alone into the wind, the velocity of the header was such that not even a bounce on the six yard line could slow it's progress past the despairing clutches of the opposing goalkeeper. Well done, son !

The Farangs continued to create, Wayne and Simon both close to connecting with excellent crosses from the flanks which flashed across the face of the Isaan goal. The last 10 minutes of the first half however brought a shift in the balance of play. The visitors, tiring a little under the sun and the exertions of playing into the wind, began to come under increasing pressure. After launching countless long balls and crosses, the home team contrived to find an equaliser right on the stroke of half-time. A deep speculative in-swinging cross from the left flank caught the strong wind and cleared the entire box, only to find the head of an Special Forces attacker who stole in on the blindside and converted his chance well with an unstoppable header into the roof of the net. A little hard on the Farangs right on half-time, but there was reason enough to remain optimistic. After all, we would have the wind in the second half, wouldn't we?

The second half saw a reshuffled Farangutan side, with Rory, having kept Issan quiet down their left flank for much of the first half, making way for Ano, who joined up with Mick in attack.

A disastrous start however saw the Farangs carved open by some neat build-up play. 2-1 down after a couple of minutes, FFC needed to regroup fast and make sure that they didn't concede a potentially fatal third. Indeed, it was some well organised defending that saw the Farangs easily able to deal with an opposition corner, the resulting clearance travelling most of the pitch and troubling the Special Forces defence to such an extent that Ano found himself in possession of a bouncing ball with the goal at his mercy. The bobbling ball seem to take an age to cross the goalmouth, prompting the more pessimistic Farangs to hold their head in their hands prematurely.  However, the ball nestled comfortably in the corner of the net, right next to a luxurious growth of desert grass;  Ano had kept his cool, slotted home, and the sides were level, two a-piece.

Not content with a scoring draw the Farangs pushed for more, and, unsettling the Isaan defence, found themselves with a free-kick 25 yards from goal,  just left of centre. Despite a defensive wall and an agile goalkeeper, the home team were helpless in the face of an unerring right-footed drive from their man-of-the-match Brian. Hit perfectly straight, the ball was still rising as it hit the top corner of the net in picture-book fashion. What a pearler!  3 - 2 !

A famous Farang victory was looking a good bet, but credit to the Issan squad who showed great determination to prevent their first defeat in the league. With the Farangs unable to hold the ball up front due to the bounce and the wind, the home team began to probe along the ground in wave after wave of attack. Credit to Mick for helping out his outnumbered midfield, as the trailing side poured men forward; but the midfield partnership was overrun, with Adam  in particular, unused to the demands of central midfield and yet to complete a full game, hoping for a replacement. There was none available however, and fresh legs may just have been able to prevent a final Issan flourish which saw a good passing move dissect the Farang defence to bring a final equaliser and a tremendous climax to a great match. The Farangutan keeper was helpless to prevent a low accurate first time shot finding the corner, but should content himself on a fine performance that saw him called into action repeatedly to deal with high swirling  crosses and endless hopeful through balls, not to mention kicking into a strong wind and dealing with the perils of the Savannah.

So, a memorable match, probably a fair result, and an new-found optimism as to the goal-scoring potential of the Farang outfit. Thanks also to Hinsh for turning up to help and encourage despite not being able to play. We wish him well in his quest to be fit for next week's encounter with Fawng Kaew at "Wing 41".

Oh, no space left to mention the referee....!!!*!@#*!*!!!

MEN OF THE MATCH: Bryan, Mick, Wayne