Dateline 2^nd 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 11^th 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 16^th 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 24^th 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 29^th 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 31^st 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 52^nd 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 66^th 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 84^th minute Tagbajumi scored with an angled shot to give the visitors the sniff of a deserved point. Athibordee was then sent off in the 88^th 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.