VIDEO: Phuket FC gain survival life line with 1-0 win over Nakhonpathom

FOOTBALL: An 85th minute goal was enough to give Phuket FC three points against Nakhonpathom United last night, and one more life-line in their fight for survival in the second-tier national league of Thai football.

The match, both side's 36^th of the 38-fixture season, was played in front of about 1,700 fans at Surakul, which included a visiting contingent of about 100 fans who'd bused down from Nakhon Pathom province.

Phuket FC enjoyed most of the chances with strong attacking fronts played from the outside-in, and solid defensive marking that shut out a usually-feisty Nakhonpathom.

Despite good chances by Ndebi Berlin and Pipat Tonkanya, it was Patitpat “Boss” Amantri (no 25) who scored off the bench, a shot straight to the goal keeper's slippery hands.

The score remained 1-0 through four minutes of added time.

(Video highlights by Siamsport Syndicate)

Now with 43 points, Phuket are still in 16^th place and thus in the red zone as the 15^th through 20^th placed teams are set to be relegated after the season concludes next Saturday (December 12).

If Phuket earns points in its final two matches and depending on the results of other rivals hoping to escape the relegation zone, survival is still possible.

Phuket now head to Songkhla to play their penultimate match on Wednesday (December 9) before coming home to finish the season against already-relegated Trat FC on Saturday. Here's what the table looks like now.

Team / GD / Pts

Police / 55 / 79
Pattaya Utd / 34 / 61
Sukhothai / 19 / 56
BBCU / 6 / 56
Thai Honda / 15 / 54
PTT Rayong / 8 / 54
Nakhonpathom / 7/ 53
Airforce / 6 / 52
Angthong / 10 / 51
Prachuap / 4 / 51
Bangkok / -2 / 48
Songkhla / -7 / 48
Samut Songkhram / 1 / 47
Krabi / -1 / 46
Chiangmai / -10 / 45
Phuket / -25 / 43
Phichit / -9 / 42
TTM / -17 / 37
Ayuthaya / -27 / 37
Trat / -67 / 21

As you can see, a lot has yet to be determined in the final two fixtures of the season. Of the six relegation spots, three have already been secured (TTM, Ayuthaya and Trat), while only one of the three promotion spots is certain at this point (Police United).

Phichit, Phuket, Chiangmai, Krabi, Samut Songkhram, Songkhla and Bangkok are all still at risk of being one of the other three teams to get relegated, while even Prachuap and Angthong are still mathematically at risk of going down, as the two clubs also have slim chances of promotion, likewise.

All in, nine teams are vying for the remaining two promotion spots, and include Pattaya, Sukhothai, BBCU, Thai Honda, PTT Rayong, Nakhon Pathom, Airforce, Angthong and Prachuap.

Win, lose or draw, The Phuket News is a proud media partner with Phuket FC. Stay tuned for updates.