NRFC 1 Chainat Hornbills 0

An important battle at the 80^th Anniversary Stadium tonight as both teams sought to ease their respective relegation fears. As the second leg commences, a real mid season “6 pointer”.

An encouraging 8000 fans welcomed the two teams. Early sparring led to few real chances but with the hosts playing with more resolve. In a rare foray forward by Chainat, a defender’s clearance bounced luckily off the bar to save an embarrassing own goal.

Lindemann, Adeyeah and Tagbajumi continued to link well and in the 27^th minute, the game burst into life when Tagbajumi went close with a diving header after good work from Adeyeah. The Swatcats continued to press, looking dangerous up front and in the 45^th minute Nagano went close with a header after a Tagbajumi flick.

The half came to a close with neither side able to break the deadlock but with the Swatcats “bossing” the game.

Chainat began the second half with a flourish with a snap shot well saved. The hosts then continued to press with a Tagbajumi shot on the turn inches wide.

In the 60^th minute Lindemann broke the deadlock when he cut in from the flank and unleashed a thunderbolt from the edge of the box to put the home team ahead – candidate for goal of the season perhaps?

In the 66^th minute the hosts struck the post after some good work from Tagbajumi. Adeyeah then fired over from 12 yards as they strived to increase their lead. A weak header in the 80^th minute apart, Chainat offered little as the hosts battled for a second goal.

Another strong performance against a weak Chainat team - and another stride towards safety.

A couple of observations - Chivuta is now not a regular starter, maybe because of tiredness or injury Noah is being used sparingly and the team are getting used to coping without him (dare I say playing better without him!!!). Bjorn Lindemann has been playing out of his skin – he seems newly motivated. Adeyeah and Tagbajumi are becoming increasingly effective up front – and I think there is more to come. Adeyeah in particular is putting in real shifts, tackling back and dropping deep to help in defence.

All in all this is a different team to that which played in the early season games – well motivated, better shape on the pitch and playing together as a team. All this must be attributed to Milos Joksic and I commend him for his efforts - all we need now is for the fans to start streaming back!!

Dateline 25^th June 2016

 Muangthong United 4 NRFC 1

Top of the league Muangthong took on the resurgent Swatcats at the SCG Stadium. The visitors hoping to continue their positive run of results, the hosts hoping to maintain their “top of the pile” status.

This fixture is a repeat of the season opener in which MT snatched a 1-0 victory.

As the game commenced, the visitors weathered the early expected pressure with Muangthong unable to make their early chances pay. Some desperate defending and mediocre finishing kept the Swatcat’s goal line intact. 72% possession in the first 30 minutes of play by the hosts indicated the dominance of the league leaders.

In the 32^nd minute a deflected shot eluded the keeper to give the hosts a deserved lead. Then there followed a further period of constant pressure by the hosts, but on 44 minutes Tagbajumi broke through the middle and slid in an unexpected equalizer - a fine solo effort.

On the stroke of half time the home team regained the lead with a close range shot following a corner.

At half time, at 2-1 the Swatcats were still in the game but clearly playing second fiddle to a talented Muangthong outfit.

The second half quickly saw a fine save from a long range shot by the visitor’s keeper. NRFC countered with a fine effort from a confident Tagbajumi, tipped over by the home keeper.

Muangthong went further ahead with a short range tap in on 54 minutes after a fine break down the left flank. Minutes later the “on fire” Tagbajumi had a goal disallowed for offside after fine work from Chivuta and Lindemann.

MT continued to exert pressure, again dominating possession and producing a couple of decent chances in the process. The Swatcats countered sporadically with Lindemann looking classy in midfield at times but really there was only one team in this contest.

 Muangthong added a fourth goal on 82 minutes to give the score a rather flattering look. A late free kick by Muangthong rattled the bar as they closed out a rather comfortable evening’s work at the SCG Stadium.

Clearly outclassed but not disgraced by the season’s top PLT team. Good spirit and resolute defending kept the score line semi respectable. On balance another pretty solid performance but with no reward – further evidence I believe of the team’s ability to escape relegation.

Dateline 22^nd June 2016

 FT NRFC 1 Army United 0

The Swatcats entertained Army tonight, hoping to extend their winning streak to three games. In what was a feisty encounter a Bjorn Lindemann penalty separated the teams at full time. This win, coach Joksic’s third victory in a row, lifted the Swatcats further clear of the relegation zone and added some credence to the chance of Premiership survival this season.

Army started brightly with a long range shot but the hosts were soon on the front foot with a couple of chances going wide. The Swatcats pressed forward and a Lindemann effort was well saved, goalkeeper Sunny then brought down the advancing Prompong and Lindemann slotted home the resulting penalty to give the hosts the lead.

Army man Botti was sent off for a blow to an opponent’s head then a further long range effort from the visitors brought the first half to a close.

Nagano was sent off shortly after the second half began following a clumsy block to reduce the match to ten versus ten. Adeyeah then went narrowly wide following a slick pass from Lindemann. Army countered with a diving header going wide as they pushed for an equalizer.

Hassan Sunny then pulled off a first class save from a short range header and then Army went close at the other end as the momentum swung one way then another. An unlikely own goal was saved by the host’s keeper as the Army continued to press forward.

Another workmanlike performance with victory just deserved. Army were allowed a number of chances and might have considered that a point apiece may have been a fair result.

Nonetheless, a further three valuable points gained and the promise of movement up the table seems viable.

Dateline 18^th June 2016

FT Osotspa Samut Prakan 1 NRFC 2

The Swatcats visited Osotspa Samut Prakan in a vital relegation battle. A victory for the visitors would lift them out of the bottom three, leapfrogging the hosts in the process.

The match began with Lindemann in “midfield” but no Noah Chivuta. The visitors started brightly with a Tagbajumi header going wide. They continued to dominate possession and put pressure on the host’s defence. An Adeyeah drive went close followed by a shot narrowly over the bar as the Swatcats swarmed forward – the Swatcats were purring!!! Conversely Osotspa did not offer much up front in the first 20 minutes.

In the 24^th minute Peeraphon fired in from 20 yards after a fine run to give the visitors a deserved lead. The Swatcats were looking a far better side than Osotspa and continued to press and in the 36th minute Pralong Sawandee slid in a second after a defensive mix up.

On the stroke of half time Osotspa went close but in truth it was their only real chance so far and as the half drew to a close NRFC seemed in complete control…. And playing like champions.

Osotspa pulled one back with an excellent 25 yard drive in the 48^th minute. This seemed to wake up the home side and they pressed forward with real intent for the first time in the match.

Adeyeah then missed a chance after another defensive error and Lindemann went close with an angled drive as the visitors tried to regain their composure.

The hosts were beginning to seize the initiative as what had seemed to be an easy victory for the Swatcats was deteriorating into a fight for survival.

Noah Chivuta was introduced after 66 minutes in order to bolster midfield but Osotspa continued to press. NRFC broke sporadically but not with the purpose shown in the first half

Osotspa looked a different side in the second half but could not make up for their pitiful first half performance – NRFC tired and sat back, allowing Osotspa to play and this nearly cost them the win.

Tonight we played well in the first half but we have not become a great side overnight – Osotspa were poor and on this performance they are certain to join BBCU in Division 1 next season.

I’m not sure what Milos Joksic has done but the team looks better organized, more confident and seem to be moving the ball forward quickly and with more resolve. Three wins in a week isn’t a bad start for the new coach – and he seems to be doing it all with a big smile too!! Well done Milos.

Dateline 11^th June 2016

 NRFC 1 Pattaya United 0

The Rockin’ Dolphins from Pattaya were the visitors today with The Swatcats looking for a rare victory to enable them to improve their precarious position near the foot of the table. The match also was Milos Joksic’s first league game in charge.

The match began in front of a very sparse crowd – possibly fewer than 4000 I would guess – sad times indeed for a club famed in the recent past for its huge fan base. How pitiful the near empty 80^th Anniversary Stadium looked tonight.

The Swatcats began on the front foot and put together some decent attacking moves with Tagbajumi looking lively and in the 13^th minute after some smart work from Adeyeah, Chanatphon slid in the first goal for the home team.

For the first 30 minutes, Pattaya did not show much ambition up front and seemed content to soak up the home team’s pressure. In the 33^rd minute a guilt edged chance was missed by the hosts as a close range header from a corner was miss timed and in the resulting melee a close range shot went wide. The Dolphins then countered with a drive going narrowly wide.

The second half started with Pattaya showing more attack minded intent but following a break by the home team a free kick was smartly saved by the visitor’s keeper and minutes later Adeyeah shot over from 8 yards.

A promising break by the Dolphins in the 60^th minute ended with some brave goalkeeping by the home keeper as he came out to smother the resulting shot and in the 63^rd minute Pralong Sawandee was sent off following a second yellow card after a silly and innocuous challenge on the keeper.

Pattaya were beginning to get a foothold in the match and one wonders why they only started playing at half time. The hosts seemed to tire and were losing their grip on midfield resulting in pressure being exerted on their defence. Despite this pressure the Swatcats held on to their one goal lead and earned a valuable victory.

A much needed 3 points tonight. The Swatcats looked a decent side tonight – especially in the first half. The midfield seemed more effective and provided more for the frontmen to get their teeth into. I still maintain that Tagbajumi and Adeyeah could form a successful partnership but as yet they have failed to be convincing. We did not miss Bjorn Lindemann (who incidentally was not even named as a substitute tonight).

Against a poor Pattaya team the defence looked OK too. On balance a useful start for Milos Joksic but against stronger teams we will continue to struggle. If we can put away lower echelon teams we should just about survive – and to me, given our poor start that would represent a satisfactory conclusion to the season.