Dateline 24^th 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 51^st 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 63^rd 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 72^nd 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 90^th 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.