Having anticipated the season start on the back of a 7-month break, Phuket fans were hungry for the action, and would be satiated only two minutes into play with a goal by Brazilian star, Jackson Santos – the club’s leading scorer for the previous two seasons.
The next and final goal came on 16 minutes by the Andaman Pearl’s Phuchong Charoensrihatna, and though both sides had chances throughout the rest of the match, the score remained in favour of the home team through to the final whistle.
It was Surat Thani’s first professional match in two years, as the club opted break last season in order to raise finances after it, along with many other FTPL clubs struggled to pay player salaries at the culmination of the 2012-2013 season.
The win puts Phuket in a comfortable third place position out of 14 teams this year.
Phuket now head to the capital to take on Samut Prakarn on April 4, before breaking for Songkran holiday.
The Andaman Pearl resume play with a big match at home, against FTPL reigning champions, Chonburi Blue Wave on Saturday, April 18.
To be played at the 4,000-seat Saphan Hin Sports Centre, the match kicks off at 7pm.
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