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.