Dateline 30^th March 2016

 NRFC 1 Bangkok Glass 2

THE Swatcats welcomed the Glass Rabbits from Bangkok with the visitors hoping to continue their early season good form.

The hosts began with Tagbajumi up front.

In front of about 14 000 fans, the first half began with an early chance for the hosts with Tagbajumi failing to make contact with a Malek cross. The visitors countered with a guilt edged chance missed at the other end. With Malek looking bright and Tagbajumi a threat, the home team looked dangerous and created a couple of half chances.

The men in green countered well and looked dangerous on the break with some swift passing movements causing problems for the Swatcat’s defence. Bangkok Glass were looking a more composed side as the half progressed with some great skill shown in midfield and up front.

Lindemann spurned a great chance in the 20^th minute after some good work from Malek, the resultant corner led to chaos in the visitor’s box with Tagbajumi failing to finish.

In the 34^th minute Malek met a Lindemann cross but headed straight at the keeper from 7 yards. The Swatcats continued to press and in the 37^th minute a penalty was awarded as Lindemann was taken down as he cut in from the flank; he got up to score from the spot.

As the half concluded there was not too much between the two teams with BG having more chances but the hosts having slightly more possession.

The second half saw the visitors opening brightly, with a shot hooked over the bar from 12 yards and in the 54^th minute a strong header from a free kick brought the visitors level. Minutes later a sharp header was saved well to prevent the visitors going ahead.

BG began to dominate and started to show their class with the Swatcats hanging on, withstanding great pressure – at this point with 20 odd minutes to play, I certainly would have settled for a draw!!

Adiyeah replaced Noah Chivuta in the 68^th minute as the visitors continued to press. The Swatcats had a rare chance to win the game in the 88^th minute when Tagbajumi fired over but seconds later

Bangkok Glass went ahead when a long range shot squirmed under the keeper’s body.

A dominant second half performance from Bangkok Glass with their forward play very fluent and penetrative suggests they will stay with the front runners this season. In truth the home team was completely outplayed in the second half.

A competent if not sparkling performance against a strong Bangkok Glass outfit. The match confirmed that NRFC can compete – but not beat the top PLT teams but tonight they will be unhappy that they could not hang on for a draw.

Dateline 16^th March 2016

 BBCU FC 2 NRFC 4

In this battle of the felines, The Pink Panthers were striving to overcome a Swatcats outfit who were looking to improve after a disappointing start to their campaign.

Junta TV strikes again on True4U so unable to comment on the first 20 minutes of the game which was not transmitted.

The Big Bang, luckily some may say, promoted after the demise of Police United, started hesitatingly with a smart drive from the visitors inches over. They then replied with a header saved by the Swatcat’s keeper.

The men from Korat then began a period of pressure concluding in a 20 metre drive from Malek which beat the keeper at the near post. With Adiyeah looking dangerous the Swatcats continued to press as they looked for a second goal.

The 34^th minute saw an excellent header from the home team that was inches wide and later a free kick was safely saved but in the 40^th minute Adido broke clear and slotted home a 20 metre drive – he looks class tonight – 2-0 to the visitors.

The second half began with  NRFC seemingly asleep as the home team seized the initiative and they pulled one back in the 53rd minute and with growing confidence put the Swatcat’s goal under pressure with a couple of chances created. They drew level in the 66th minute with a Swatcats’ own goal. The tempo of the game seemed to have shifted with BBCU gaining momentum.

Tagbajumi on as sub for Adido shot over from 20 metres and in the 78^th minute BBCU spurned a great chance to go ahead when Julius fired over.

In the 83rd minute, a defensive mix up allowed Tagbajumi to snatch an 83^rd minute goal and he followed it with a fourth in the 88^th minute.

At half time the Swatcats looked comfortable and it seemed that an easy victory would follow however they seemed to lose concentration and conceded 2 goals. Overall however a good performance against a poor BBCU outfit.

Dateline 12^th March 2016

 NRFC 1 BEC Tero Sasana 0

The Swatcats welcomed the Fire Dragons to the 80^th Anniversary Stadium looking to open their points account and to attempt to spice up a rather disappointing opening to the season.

In front of an attendance of around 12 000 thousand fans (was not at the match so only a guess) the home team opened up their points account with a deserved victory.

The Swatcats started with Adiyeah up front in place of Marco Tagbajumi who was on the bench.

A disappointing first 20 minutes saw neither side make any significant chances. The home team’s passing movements were laboured and tended to pose no real threat to Tero’s defence with long speculative punts to Adiyeah being used to little effect.

A header from a corner that hit the Swatcat’s upright and luckily bounced back into the home keeper’s arms was the only real action in the first 30 minutes – a largely unspectacular start to the match.

A Lindemann shot in the 31^st minute seemed to “wake up” the home team and a flurry of chances resulted with pressure being exerted. Adido hit the upright in the 35^th minute as the Swatcats hunted for an opening goal and Chivuta struck a 20 metre shot a couple of feet wide after good work on the flank from Adido.

The second half saw the home team pressing forward and putting more pressure on Tero’s defence with Adido causing problems for the defenders. A Lindemann shot flew wide as The Swatcats began to exert almost constant pressure – surely a goal was going to come.

A welcome return for Prompong as substitute and almost immediately, in the 75^th minute Nagano rose to nod in a goal from a corner kick.

Tero broke sporadically and in the 81^st minute they produced a header that bounced off the upright and in the 85^th minute the home keeper saved well to preserve the home team’s lead.

In truth Tero looked a very ordinary side and I feel that a better side may have taken advantage of the home team’s performance tonight. Playing one up front does not look very convincing – I look forward to seeing Adiyeah and Tagbajumi linking up in future games.

A very useful 3 points however and on balance a deserved victory with the second half performance showing some real spirit and hope for the future.

Dateline 9^th March 2016

 Chainat Hornbills 3 NRFC 1

Unfortunately, I am unable to report on the first 15 minutes of the match due to the fact that “Junta TV” was being televised – when are the football authorities going to sort out this problem – apparently Chainat scored a goal whilst I was being forced to watch some irrelevant bollocks that only the most hardened of Thai citizens care a toss about – rant over!!!

Back to the match; Chainat made numerous raids forward and were unlucky not to be two up after some slack defending. The home team seemed quite tidy in midfield as The Swatcats strived to stay in the match. Possession wise, it was very one sided with the visitors offering little up front, two Nagano headers being the only threat to the home goalkeeper. In the 40^th minute, some desperate defending again foiled a Chainat raid forward as the Swatcats were forced onto the back foot

In the first 45 minutes The Hornbills looked a far more accomplished side with NRFC being fortunate to be only one goal down.

The second half began with an impressive move by the visitors with the ball skimming dangerously across The Hornbills 6 yard box. minutes later a Lindemann drive was inches wide.

Chainat missed a golden chance to go 2 up in the 50th minute and a minute later the Swatcats defence was breached for a second time to put Chainat two up. Adiyeah was introduced in the 56^th minute as the men from Korat converted to two up front. Chainat again began to dominate and were unlucky not to go three up in the 68^th minute.

Chivuta was inches over from a 22 yard free kick and he slotted home a 77^th minute penalty to ensure an exciting climax to the game and offer the hope of an unlikely first point of the season for the visitors. Tagbajumi was inches wide with a slick 12 yard drive as NRFC fought for the equalizer.

Chainat then added a third in the closing seconds to wrap up a deserved 3 points.

A more encouraging second half performance from NRFC but still a deserved victory for the Hornbills. If as, expected, Chainat are a standard “mid to lower” table side, The Swatcats, based on this performance, will certainly struggle to fight for a top ten finish – let’s hope for more polished performances in the coming games.

Dateline 5^th March 2016

 NRFC 0 Muang Thong United 1

In front of an astonishing 32 000 fans at the 80^th Anniversary Stadium, a decent and quick passing Muang Thong overcame a brave Swatcat team with a 37^th minute goal in this season opener.

In a repeat of the score in the corresponding fixture last year Muang Thong showed their class with their contingent of players from the Thai National team proving more than a match for the home team. I would note at this point however that NRFC looked a more polished and balanced side than at the start of last season.

The home team started brightly, spurning a golden chance to gain an 11^th minute advantage after an incredible run from Tagbajumi. Muang Thong however looked excellent going forward with quick passing and astute use of the flanks. They looked likely to score on a number of occasions but the home team defended doggedly. They produced a long range shot that struck the upright and in the 37^th minute a well flighted shot come cross drifted into the net much to the surprise of every player on the pitch!!!

The home team produced some useful attacking moves, with a long range shot tipped over by the keeper and some dogged defending preventing another shot but as the match progressed they seemed to tire allowing Muang Thong to gain more possession.

The second half saw the home team pressing forward leaving huge gaps for the visitors to exploit with Muang Thong happy to keep possession and protect their lead forcing the home keeper into a fine save in the 58^th minute

The Swatcat’s chances were few and far between with Tagbajumi forcing some great defensive work in the 60^th minute. The addition of Adido failed to inspire the home team to produce much but as the team pressed for an unlikely equalizer, the fans almost raised the roof when an 80th minute Lindemann blast shaved the woodwork and a Chivuta shot was well saved. Nagano then rose well to draw a first class save from the opposition keeper as the home team mounted a late rally. A Lindemann strike in the dying seconds flew inches over the bar denying the home team a first point of the season.

Positives to be taken: Tagbajumi looked a handful at times, the defence fought well and the general balance of the team looked useful and of course the wonderful support – if team members are not motivated by the atmoshpere at the 80 th Anniversary Stadium they should not be wearing the orange shirt.

Based on this performance, the Swatcats will have a respectable campaign. Losing to a strong team like Muang Thong is no disgrace. Going forward, I hope that team abandons the “one up front” strategy and strives to give Tagbajumi some support - especially for future home games.

As for Muang Thong, they looked like a top 3 team but I fear they will find it difficult to challenge for the top honour – their defending was shoddy at times and stronger opponents will capitalize on this.

Matchday 1 Season 2016

The Swatcats face a challenging start to the 2016 season when they welcome the talented Muang Thong United on Saturday 5^th. March, KO 19.00 hours. The visitors have strengthened their squad in the close season with one of their acquisitions being Chananthip. They will be looking to challenge Buriram United for the top spot and the hosts will be hard pressed to snatch a point in this season opener.

My Prediction: Swatcats 1 Muang Thong United 1