Dateline 11^th May 2016

 NRFC 1 Chang Rai United 4

The visitors tonight were Chang Rai United. After a great start, there has been a stutter in their form but they should still have enough to overcome a struggling Swatcat team.

The first half started with a sparse crowd asking the question “Can the home team discover some spark to energise their season?” No Adeyeah or Tagbajumi up front. Prompong gets a start.

Chang Rai struck in the second minute with an unopposed header to go one up. In the opening minutes Chang Rai look much sharper than the hosts.

In the 16^th minute a diving header from the hosts flashed just wide and minutes later a well worked move lead to a drive shaving the bar.

Chang Rai went further ahead in the 26^th minute with a freak, long range header that bounced over the keeper. The hosts continued to huff and puff with no tangible end product with Chang Rai looking confident and competent.

Chang Rai completed the half 3 up with a well worked third goal.

The second half again confirmed that Chang Rai are a better, well organized outfit with the hosts being pulled all over the place with slick passing movements and better technique. With confidence ebbing it seems to me that the Swatcat players really don’t know what their jobs on the field are… and are waiting to be told!!

In the 59^th minute a completely unmarked Murillo volleyed in the fourth. The hosts plugged away gamely but what is becoming clear is that they have lost their way tactically.

A long range shot was well saved by the Chang Rai keeper and minutes later a Lindemann drive was inches wide as the hosts pressed with Chang Rai taking their foot off the gas.

A late Tagbajumi consolation goal will do nothing to hide the fact that the Swatcats are really struggling. Some action has to be taken quickly otherwise this side is relegation bound. For whatever reason this set of players is not performing and seem to lack any real spirit. There is no part of the team that offers any hope of improvement. The fans are already voting with their feet. Only the real diehards are prepared to turn out to see these substandard performances – there really has been little entertainment at the 80^th anniversary Stadium this season. This is such a disappointment after last season but in truth, the team overachieved last year with a mediocre set of players.