Sunday 24 July 2016

Dateline 24th July 2016

 NRFC 1 Si Saket 1

Fellow Isaan side Si Saket were the visitors tonight. The Koupreys hoping to preserve their position of safety in mid table, the hosts hoping to pull away from the relegation trapdoor.

On a damp evening, the hosts began brightly with a Tagbajumi lob going close. A period of Swatcat pressure developed with 2 or 3 half chances created but Si Saket looked pacey and dangerous on the break at times.
16 minutes into the game and an Adiyiah header tested the visitor’s keeper, then an 18 yard drive went over the bar after some good work from Lindemann.

On 22 minutes the hosts spurned a great chance to go one up when a close range chance was poked just wide. As the half drew to a close a late flourish by the Koupreys presented them with a couple of rare chances.
In a half of almost constant pressure from the home team they might consider themselves unlucky not to be ahead at half time.

The second half began with the hosts again on the front foot and in the 51st minute a Lindemann cross shot was parried by the keeper into the path of substitute Prompong. He was unable to make clean contact and his shot from 3 yards went wide. The home team continued to dominate possession and several half chances were created as they strived for a deserved lead.

In the 63rd minute a drive from Adiyiah went narrowly wide – surely a goal must come soon and with Si Saket producing little up front, surely a winning goal!!

With Lindemann now bossing midfield and Tagbajumi “putting himself around a bit” up front the hosts were looking increasingly dangerous and in the 72nd minute Athibordee whacked his shot against the upright after a poor clearance from the visitor’s keeper. A minute later a well directed header from Tagbajumi, after a fine cross, was superbly saved by the keeper.
NRFC were now well in charge of the match and with Si Saket reeling, the chances continued to come with Bjorn Lindemann featuring extensively in most attacks.

Shock horror in the 81st minute the May T was adjudged to have held back the Si Saket forward and a penalty was awarded with May T dismissed for a second yellow. The penalty was dispatched to give The Koupreys an unlikely lead.
The Swatcats fought back and Adiyiah went close twice in as many minutes and in the 90th minute a 25 yard Lindemann free kick thundered against the crossbar.
In added time, justice was finally done when Dominic Adiyiah slotted home after a fine solo run and one two in the box.

This definitely should have been a deserved home win. Our last two games have yielded 2 points whereas I feel 6 should have been the target. Two valuable points given our position in the table but if our aspirations are “top 10”, to quote Joksic, we must learn to convert draws into wins.
A decent performance tonight - we played some good football at times and effort levels and motivation seemed first rate. Goals still seem hard to come by – not sure why.

The Tagbajumi/Adiyiah partnership is still developing and is definitely worth persevering with – with better service I think this duo up front will blossom.

Wednesday 20 July 2016

Dateline 20th July 2016

Chonburi Sharks 1 NRFC 1

The Swatcats dipped their paws into Shark infested waters tonight in an attempt to continue their encouraging recent run.

The match began with the Sharks probing but being comfortably contained by the visitors. The first real incident of interest was a drive by the hosts from 18 yards, smartly saved by the Swatcat’s keeper.
As the half progressed the Swatcats offered little up front as the home team pressed – in truth neither side showed much potency going forward.

In the 28th minute after some good footwork, Tagbajumi struck the upright with an 8 yard shot on the turn – a rare moment of drama in the match so far.

On the cusp of half time a fine 20 yard drive from the Sharks struck the post then Tagbajumi broke through the middle, the move ending with a tame lob over from Adiyiah.
A torrid end to a rather sterile first half in which neither side was able to break the deadlock.

In the first minute of the second half Prince rose to head in to give the home team the lead. The goal spurred the Swatcats into a brief period of pressure culminating in a Tagbajumi equalizer in the 54th minute after the forward fought off a series of challenges.

Adiyiah went close with a header after some good work down the flank by Lindemann in the 62nd minute, the Sharks countered immediately with a speculative header. The Sharks went close with a diving header in the 69th minute and again in the 81st minute with a drive going narrowly wide as they pressed for a late winner. Prompong, on as substitute, missed a sitter in the 90th minute as he fluffed his shot from 6 yards, blowing any chance of an unlikely 3 points.


A much better second half showing, although not one of our best overall match performances. The players fought well – as we have become accustomed to under Milos Joksic and we looked confident but the forwards lacked consistent service. Our recent encouraging performances have relied heavily on Bjorn Lindemann and he was slightly off the pace tonight. A good away point however and continuing encouraging signs from the team.

Saturday 16 July 2016

Dateline 16th July 2016

 NRFC 1 Ratchaburi 0

Ratchaburi were the visitors tonight as the Swatcats attempted to seal a victory after two consecutive losses.

On a damp evening, in front of 7 000 fans, the hosts began brightly with Lindemann finding lots of space in midfield. A couple of half chances were created as the the Swatcats pressed. In the 19th minute Lindemann almost sneaked a free kick past the keeper at the near post but that chance aside neither team was looking particularly dangerous – one real shot on target all half by my reckoning.

Pretty much not a first half to last long in the memory with NRFC having slightly the better shape and ambition. I’m afraid to say that it’s halves like this that leads to poor attendances at TPL games!!

Ratchaburi went close with an 18 yard drive in the first minute of the second half then the hosts countered immediately with a close range chance going wide. Adiyiah then got a decent shot on target as the Swatcats pressed. Showing great resolve the hosts surged forward with Lindemann again on target.

In the 59th minute a magnificent strike from 20 yards by Chanatphol broke the deadlock – a deserved reward after some early second half pressure. Minutes late Ratchaburi struck the left hand upright with an 18 yard half volley.
The hosts were now playing some attractive quick passing football and the visitor’s keeper made a great save from an angled drive in the 73rd minute.

A 25 yard free kick was well saved by the home keeper in the 82nd minute in what was one of few chances produced by Ratchaburi


A disappointing first half was followed by a much improved performance in the second half. Not a classic by any stretch of the imagination but the team fought well and deserved their victory against an ordinary looking Ratchaburi outfit.

Saturday 9 July 2016

Dateline 9th July 2016

 Bangkok Glass 2 NRFC 1

The Swatcats were the guests at the Leo Stadium tonight, hoping to sneak a point to ease their still lingering relegation fears.

Both sides started brightly with the Glass Rabbits getting the first shot on target in the 5th minute, they then went close again with an effort well defended. The Swatcats continued to battle gamely with Tagbajumi looking dangerous.

A 20 yard drive from an unmarked Bangkok Glass attacker struck the bar in the 15th minute then an angled drive was struck wide as the home team pushed forward. The men in green certainly looked the more polished side in the opening 25 minutes.

With pressure building a long range shot went wide as the hosts strived to open the scoring. The men from Korat were holding on but a home goal seemed inevitable as the half progressed.
In a rare break Lindemann shot wide after good work from Tagbajumi on the flank.

A well struck 25 yard free kick gave the hosts the lead in the 37th minute – a deserved lead in my opinion with the hosts claiming 59% of possession thus far. The Swatcats struck back with a well worked move ending with a Lindemann drive being blocked. From the resulting corner Lindemann struck the bar from 20 yards and seconds later the German blasted in from 16 yards to draw the visitors level.

The second half started with a Lindemann break ending with his shot being well saved as the Swatcats tried to gain a foothold in the game. Bangkok Glass continued to look dangerous up front and they went close from 5 yards in the 54th minute, Nagano then brilliantly blocked a shot in the 71st minute as the hosts again pressed forward.

Noah Chivuta was introduced in the 74th minute with the Swatcats attempting to hang on to their hard earned point. In the 84th minute Swatcat’s hearts were broken when a close range header gave the hosts the lead.
In a late rally by NRFC, a Bangkok Glass defender hits his own bar with a panic clearance and a flurry of chances by the visitors threatened the host’s lead.


Whilst under pressure for large portions of the game, the Swatcats played the ball around effectively at times and will certainly cause problems for lesser teams than Bangkok Glass. I still remain optimistic for the rest of the season. No Noah Chivuta start again tonight and it seems that he is slipping out of contention for a regular berth in the side. It is obvious in my mind that Milos Joksic has turned this team around. Although on paper results do not seem to be too impressive, the performances are most definitely better. The team is breaking forward far more effectively and everyone in the team is closing down opponents impressively in all areas of the field.

Saturday 2 July 2016

Dateline 2nd July 2016

 BEC Tero Sasana 2 NRFC 1

The Swatcats entered the Fire Dragon’s den in a bid to continue their recent vein of good form.

The visitors started with Prompong and Adiyiah up front. The game began with both teams probing cautiously but unable to produce much. In the 11th minute, a wonderful long ball from Adiyiah found Prompong completely unmarked in the box but he miss hit his shot and it went wide. Adiyiah then drew a decent save from the keeper with a 12 yard drive.
The Swatcats were now beginning to seize the initiative with some decent forward play and in the 16th minute an Athibordee shot was tipped over the bar by the keeper. Tero countered with a shot well blocked by the Swatcat defence.

In the 24th minute a Lindemann drive was well saved after a well executed break from the visitors. Then slightly against the run of play Tero went ahead in the 29th minute with a smart half volley. Minutes later they went close with a header and in two minutes of madness the Swatcats conceded again in the 31st minute to go two down.

The first half drew to a close with the Swatcat team wondering “How in hell’s name are we two down in this one?”

The Swatcats opened brightly in the second half with a flurry of chances, the newly introduced Tagbajumi looking lively at times. A wonder shot from Linemann from a full 30 yards brushed the bar in the 52nd minute as the visitors strived to half the deficit. More pressure led to defensive panic as Tagbajumi fired in from close range. Surely a goal must come soon.

In the 66th minute a glancing header was saved bravely by the host’s keeper as the Swatcats continued to press. As a result of this action the injured keeper was substituted.  
At the other end Tero missed a simple chance then on the break they were thwarted by the advancing keeper.

In the 84th minute Tagbajumi scored with an angled shot to give the visitors the sniff of a deserved point. Athibordee was then sent off in the 88th minute for a silly kick out at an opponent.


Another decent and encouraging performance. Quite honestly NRFC outplayed Tero tonight. Points will come if the team continues to play in this fashion. Chances are being produced and the defence is looking pretty solid. There are many reasons to be optimistic for the future.