Dateline 20^th August 2016

 NRFC 1 Bangkok United 1

NRFC faced a stern test of their credentials as they took on the high flying Bangkok United at the 80^th Anniversary Stadium.

The home side started brightly with Tagbajumi shooting over in the 2^nd minute then Adiyiah was on target after a fine run. Adiyiah then fired inches wide after a fine passing move.

Bangkok United attacked sporadically but their moves were looking somewhat sterile early on but the signs of class were becoming increasingly apparent as the match progressed – they have a talented squad.

In the 13th minute a fine break, with astute use of the long ball, Tagbajumi made the opposition keeper work with a low drive. The Angel’s goal now seemed under constant danger as Adiyiah again made the opposing keeper work to keep out a drive.

In a goalless first half, the Swatcats demonstrated that they can compete with the best that the TPL has to offer, in some ways they were unlucky not to be ahead.

The second half commenced with Bangkok on the attack but then a dangerous counter attack ended with Lindemann shooting over. With the home team exerting some fine pressure, Bangkok countered with Mario and Jaycee both going close.

In the 56^th minute the deadlock was broken when Chakrit drove home from 10 yards, then in the 61^st minute on the break, with 3 attackers faced by one defender, the Swatcats spurned a great chance to put the game to bed with a poor cross ending the move. Chakrit then went close with a fine low drive.

On 65 minutes Mario hit a far post shot that was smothered by the home keeper, Korat then defended as series of crosses with Bangkok looking increasingly dangerous.

The Swatcats then began to sit back - too deep in my opinion and allowed intense pressure from the title contenders. This was going to be a testing 20 plus minutes as the visitors swarmed forward hoping to keep their title hopes alive.

In the 76^th minute Lindemann conceded a foul just outside the box and from the resulting free kick, Boscovic struck the bar with an excellent dipping drive - game on!! Minutes later a Jaycee header was cleared off the line with the Swatcat’s defence looking slightly panicky.

Prompong, on as a substitute, had a great chance to put the Swatcats two up in the 84^th minute following a superb through ball from Chivuta, but Bangkok broke immediately and the inevitable happened as Jaycee cleverly back flicked the ball into the net to draw the Angels level.

A fantastic performance in which they matched the skill and endeavour of arguably the best team in the TPL. Great atmosphere at the 80^th Anniversary stadium with a decent crowd (14-15 thousand would be my guess) and I feel renewed hope and enthusiasm for the team.

One only wonders what the result would have been had the home team not decided to play so deep in the last 20 minutes – inviting as they did, the visitors to exert massive pressure. No team can hope to hold out a team containing danger men Jaycee, Boscovic and Mario Gjurovski for that amount of time. One only hopes that lessons have been learnt. There is no doubt in my mind that 3 points were thrown away by this tactical error. “Game management” should be on the agenda at the next team meeting!!!

Were it not for the team’s appalling start they would be fighting for 5^th or 6^th place given their recent form under Joksic. The form table based on the last 6 results puts us fifth – what a remarkable turnaround.

Dateline 14^th August 2016

 Chang Rai United 1 NRFC 2

 An in form NRFC took on the fancied Chang Rai tonight hoping to haul themselves further clear of the bottom three.

On a damp evening the visitors opened brightly with Tagbajumi, then Lindemann going close in the opening minutes. Chang Rai countered with a shot narrowly wide. The Swatcats were more than holding their own in the first 20 minutes, counter attacking effectively and keeping the home defence on its toes.

In the 21^st minute, Tagbajumi was incorrectly adjudged to be offside as he chipped the ball into the net. Literally seconds later, he was again on the wrong end of an incorrect offside decision as his drive was saved by the keeper.

At this point, 25 minutes into the match, Chang Rai’s attacks were looking ponderous and on balance, the visitors were on top with Lindemann and Tagbajumi looking dangerous. The Swatcat’s attacks were getting more frequent with a Lindemann drive being deflected wide and an Adiyiah flick going close.

Chang Rai went close in the 37^th minute with a 12 yard drive but this was an isolated real chance for the men in orange and black.

A very encouraging first half performance with the Swatcats producing most of the chances and dominating for long periods of play.

The second half kicked off with my thought that we have been in this situation a few times this season and have conceded second half goals – can we hold out?

Lindemann had a great chance to break the deadlock in the 50^th minute as he broke through the defence but he stumbled and was unable to get his shot in. Chang Rai were then unlucky in the 56^th minute when they had a flurry of shots with the final effort flying over the bar.

The home team was beginning to get a foothold in the game and they were now exerting a certain amount of pressure on the Swatcat’s defence.

In the 62^nd minute Tagbajumi was released superbly by a through ball and he stroked the ball neatly into the net to give the visitors a deserved lead.

The home team equalized with a scrappy goal following a free kick in the 70^th minute but seconds later, following the restart a long clearance found Tagbajumi who blasted the ball into the net to restore the lead.

In a period of frenetic action Lindemann went close as the visitors pressed, Chang Rai then struck the foot of the post as both teams battled for supremacy.

Tagbajumi was dismissed for a second yellow in the 75^th minute as the action became more intense.

With both sides tiring in the heavy conditions the game became a slugging match with neither side willing to concede – becoming a real test of character for both sides.

A Chang Rai header from a corner went just over, then a looping shot went wide as the home team searched for an equalizer in the closing minutes. The Swatcats were now playing deep and inviting the Chang Rai attack to press forward – a mistake in my opinion – one that I hope is not punished!!

The Swatcats held on for a vital and famous victory to hoist themselves well clear of the relegation zone.

The team is playing well and producing some good football. Tonight was a real test of character and a tremendous 3 points. With Chainat, Army and Navy all losing this weekend and our last 4 games all winnable against fellow strugglers I now feel confident that relegation will be averted.

Well done to the team and in particular coach Joksic!!!

Dateline 7^th August 2016

 NRFC 2 Navy FC 1

Navy provided the opposition at the 80^th Anniversary Stadium in this “6 pointer” relegation battle. The future of either team in the TPL could be decided by this vital fixture.

In early exchanges Navy looked bright on the break but with Lindemann probing, the home team had more of the play.

In the 7^th minute Tagbajumi struck the upright with a swiveling 15 yard shot as the home team pressed and minutes later after a superb run and cross from Lindeman, Adiyiah forced a fine save from the visitor’s keeper.

As the first half drew to a close Chanatphol went close with a curling shot from outside the box then seconds later the home team went close twice with the Navy defence in tatters with the keeper again doing well to keep out Lindemann’s drive.

In a final first half flurry Sawandee Pralong attempted a long range drive which went narrowly wide. At the other end Adiyiah was lucky to stay on the pitch after TV replays showed him striking a Navy player in the face. This incident could have been disastrous because had the official seen the offence, he would have been forced to award a penalty.

The Swatcats produced many chances in the first half with the midfield buzzing and producing some smooth and effective moves but the defence looked loose at times with Nagano missing, presumed injured. The home team’s approach play continued to impress but that final ball into the danger areas was proving hard to find as Navy packed their defence.

The second half began with the Swatcats again on the front foot with continuous pressure and in the 63^rd minute a superb Chanatphol free kick was well saved by the keeper.

In the 59^th minute a Navy defender wrestled Chanatphol to the ground and a penalty was awarded. Lindemann converted to give the Swatcats a deserved lead.

The Swatcat defence was coping well with occasional Navy breaks but in the 64th minute a snap shot from the visitors rattled the bar – a real wake up call for the home side. Navy now sniffing an unlikely point and now having to attack went close again in the 65^th minute.

The men in orange regained their composure and Adiyiah went close, then in the 80th minute a sweet move involving Adiyiah and Tagbajumi ended with a goal from Chakrit, driven high into the net from 10 yards.

Navy ensured a tense last few minutes when they scored in the 82^nd minute with a diving header but the Swatcats survived to earn themselves the three points despite losing Chalermpong after a red card for a hefty challenge on a breaking attacker.

Another very encouraging performance and a vital 3 points for the Swatcats – a special mention at this point for Pralong and Lindemann both of whose recent form has been outstanding.

 With this victory they have leapfrogged Army and Navy and now have Pattaya and Si Saket firmly in their sights. There is NO WAY that this team will be relegated given recent performances. Another encouraging sign is that the fans are drifting back – the attendance tonight looked to be around 8-9 thousand.

With some tough fixtures ahead but with confidence high the next month is going to be interesting. Chang Rai, Bangkok United, Suphanburi and Buriram fixtures loom. I can see no 3 pointers there but if the team can grab a couple of points, we should stay clear of the bottom 5.

This may be contentious I know but I would venture to say that the current performances are BETTER than in most of the games played last season. Our shape is generally better and we have made fuller use of players in the squad. Milos Joksic has got the players on his side and team spirit and confidence seem high. If (when) we survive this season, I think that we can be pretty optimistic about our chances next year – and maybe 20 000 plus attendances!!

Chang FA Cup 3rd August

Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC 2 NRFC 1

The Swatcats failed to progress to the next round of the Chang FA Cup.

The visitors opened the scoring in the 7^th minute with a decisive 16 yard drive from Chakrit. They then absorbed an inevitable and intense period of pressure from the Dragons.

Adiyiah went close with an angled drive in the 36^th minute in a rare Swatcat first half foray as the Swatcats held on to their lead.

As the first half drew to a close, it’s hard to imagine that the Swatcats can hold out for a further 45 minutes of pressure but perhaps Ratchaburi may leave gaps at the back as they strive for an equalizer.

The second half began with Ratchaburi again on the front foot but with the Swatcats looking dangerous on rare breaks. Chakrit missed a chance after fine work from Adiyiah in the 62^nd minute but the host’s pressure was relentless. The Swatcats defended stubbornly but surely a home goal must come. A host of chances were wasted as the Dragons pressed forward.

With the home side running out of ideas – and time, an equalizer was poked in off the post in the 77^th minute. With both teams now seemingly content to play for extra time, the game drifted to finish 1-1 after 90 minutes.

My view is that, at this point, the only hope of victory for the Swatcats will be to hold out for penalties.

In the 2^nd minute of extra time Ratchaburi were awarded a penalty which was converted to give the hosts the lead. In the 112^th minute the Swatcats spurned a great chance to equalize as they themselves pressed to force the game into penalties. Minutes later Pratan was sent off for an ugly and brutal challenge from behind.

Lindemann went close in the 117^th minute but time was running out as Ratchaburi held out for a hard fought win.

Fielding an under strength team tonight (no Lindemann, Pralong, Nagano or Tagbajumi in the starting lineup) this was a competent defensive performance against a determined Ratchaburi outfit. Given their pressure throughout the game a deserved victory for the home team despite a stubborn rear guard fight from the visitors.

Dateline 30^th July 2016

 Sukhothai FC 1 NRFC 0

The Swatcats took on the newly promoted Firebats at the Thung Thalay Luang Stadium tonight. On a rain drenched pitch in front of an enthusiastic home following, the Firebats pressed forward with some attractive passing movements with Baggio frequently prominent.

Early doors one imagined that the visitors would have a lot of defending to do tonight. The Swatcat’s offensive moves were sparse but in the 10^th minute, a swiveling snap shot from 8 yards went just wide.

The Swatcats gradually dragged themselves into contention with another simple chance squandered by Tagbajumi and some useful and encouraging raids forward.

In the 30^th minute after some schoolboy soccer antics by the visitor’s keeper, the ball was stroked into an empty net to give Sukhothai a lead they barely deserved. Minutes later an ugly challenge from a defender prevented Biremi from breaking. There then followed a disgraceful interlude with Biremi attacking the Swatcat player – other players inevitably piled in to give the officials a tough job to clear up – my view was that our man was lucky to be still on the pitch.

NRFC countered with Tagbajumi going close in the 40^th minute and as the half drew to a close, my view was that The Swatcats were the better side and unlucky to be one down.

With the waterlogged pitch making it increasingly difficult for good, passing football to be played, the visitors opened the second half brightly and confidently with a deflected shot going wide. Tagbajumi then rose like a salmon in the spring to head just over from a well flighted corner.

Minutes later Prompong fluffed a header from 5 yards after a fine passing move. He claimed that a defender’s hand had deflected the ball and in a rather bizarre situation a Swatcat substitute was shown a red card after some “argy bargy” and I’m guessing abusive language, towards the assistant ref. The behaviour of some of the Swatcat players was not acceptable and in my mind pretty disgraceful – show some respect for the officials please boys!!

Back to the football and again the visitors showed the greater resolve going forward with a series of attacking moves. Sukhothai were looking pretty ordinary early in the half and their rare, lame attacks were dealt with effectively by the Swatcat defence.

In the 65^th minute Tagbajumi again rose well but his header was inches over the bar. Minutes later a Lindemann free kick went wide. Lindemann again went close seconds later with a drive well saved after some fine work from Tagbajumi.

Biremi spurned a rare chance in the 80^th minute as the Swatcats continued to press and in the 84^th minute, a Lindemann free kick appeared to be carried over the goal line by the keeper – the officials thought otherwise and this phantom goal was disallowed!!

In a late, late show Baggio drew a fine save from the Swatcat keeper with a swerving drive as the game drew to a close

A slightly fortuitous victory for Sukhothai tonight. At risk of repeating myself, another decent performance from the Swatcats. This team should be higher up the table but with matches running out, relegation still threatens. I still cannot believe that NRFC will be relegated, but with Chainat’s victory tonight they are still “in the mix” for the dreaded trapdoor positions. Next weekend’s game against Navy will be a vital one to win.