Dateline 29th April 2017 – Match day 11.

 FT NRFC 0 Bangkok United 0

The Swatcats welcomed high flying Bangkok United this weekend, with the men from Korat hoping to halt a disappointing run of results. The Bangkok Angels have scored 10 goals in their last 2 fixtures and will provide formidable opposition.  The attendance was 4531.

After a bright start from the visitors, Velkoski shot over, with an empty net beckoning, after a defensive lapse by Bangkok’s keeper. This was followed by periods of Swatcat pressure with Adiyiah the main threat. Whilst the Swatcats seemed to be in the ascendancy, Bangkok showed glimpes of class and their ability to get men forward quickly was superb and continued to cause the Swatcat defence problems.

In the 19^th minute, an Adiyiah cross struck the hand of a defender - a bolt on penalty not awarded and minutes later after a fine flowing move, Athibordee shot wide - he should have done better!!

In the 32^nd minute after a great solo run from his own half, Decha Sarandee drove just over from 14 yards - minutes later Boscovic sent an angled drive just wide. Minutes before half time the host’s keeper Saranon made a remarkable save from Boscovic to keep the scores level.

At half time, honours were even but with the hosts creating 3 or 4 clear chances, they were probably unlucky not to be ahead.

The second half opened with The Angels pressing but in the 50^th minute Adiyiah went close with an angled drive well saved by the keeper. One sensed that Bangkok had upped their effort but the Swatcat’s defence was able to cope with any threats pretty well. Meanwhile the hosts broke sporadically with effective use of the flanks. In the 62^nd minutes one of these breaks culminated in a chance for Adiyiah whose shot was well saved. Athibordee then shot over from 20 yards.

In the 64^th minute an audacious flick from Adiyiah went just wide and with the hosts continuing to exploit space on the flanks a goal was looking likely.

In the 68^th minute the Swatcats were again denied a penalty kick when Adiyiah was pulled down by the keeper and minutes later Chanatphon’s shot drifted inches wide.

Mario spurned a great chance to seal the win when he shot tamely in the 81^st minute and in a final drama the hosts were denied a third penalty when the keeper upended Chakrit inside the box. The referee adjudged the offence to be outside the box.

A much improved performance from the Swatcats and a real fillip for their fans. Against a tactically more astute team, they battled throughout and produced a number of chances, particularly in the first half. If, and it is a big if, they can produce this form consistently they should just keep clear of relegation woes.

Tonight they were unlucky not to gain all three points. This was their 6th draw - if 2 or 3 of these draws had been converted to wins, the team would be in a far more comfortable position.

Converting 3 of those draws into wins would put the team on 18 points - and 7^th place in the league!!

Match Day 11 stats.

Dateline 23rd April 2017 – Match day 10.

 FT Suphanburi FC 4 NRFC 0

The Swatcats took on the War Elephants of Suphanburi in this mid table clash. The visitors had a dreadful start when a defensive error let in Chananan who drove in on 5 minutes to put the hosts one up. Matters got worse in the 17^th minute when a free kick found Dellatorre unmarked in the box - he simply lobbed the ball over the keeper into the net. 4 minutes later more schoolboy style defending allowed Madrigal to prod home the third.

With the game virtually all over after 20 minutes and the visitors managing only sporadic raids forward, Suphan added to the Swatcats woes with a fourth in the 44th minute when a completely unmarked Nicolas Velez tapped in from 6 yards – one has to ask, where was the bloody defence!!

The Swatcats mustered only one first half chance when Adiyiah drew a fine save from the Suphan keeper in the 40^th minute.

A humiliating first half against a far from convincing Suphanburi outfit. The visitors looked shell shocked as they left the field at half time.

With Suphan taking their foot off the gas, the Swatcats regained some composure in the second half - although to be fair, it was simply damage control. A long range free kick which stung the visitor’s keeper’s hands as Suphan looked for a fifth and a Pina drive in the 59^th minute were the highlights but in a half of little consequence neither side impressed.

One can put no gloss on it, another pretty ordinary performance. I’m trying hard not to overreact but I see little reason for optimism. We have now won 2 out of the first 10 games - one of which was against Superpower - a team already destined for Tier 2 oblivion.

A top ten finish is now off the wish list – bottom 5 with a forlorn hope that there are 3 weaker teams below us, is now the reality.

I am no tactician and my depth of knowledge of the finer points of the game is weak but I have 2 observations. Victor Igbonefo is not up to it at this level - he looks out of his depth and we will continue to leak goals if he remains - act now Milos. Secondly if we do not acquire a big target man to compliment an obviously talented Adiyiah we will not score many goals. Velkoski may be a good player but he does not fit the bill for our requirements.

A situation where a team leaks goals and cannot score is a recipe for disaster. If massive measures are not taken now, I fear the worst!!

Our next game is against is against an in form Bangkok United. I dread to think what the score might be………….. and I wonder how empty the 80^th Anniversary Stadium might be !!

Match Day 10 stats

Dateline 19^th April 2017 – Match day 9.

 FT NRFC 1 Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC 1

The Swatcats entertained Ratchaburi tonight. A sparse crowd of 4700 saw Ratchaburi open brightly with Cameroonian Essombe – who incidentally looked very dangerous all match, shooting narrowly wide in the second minute. The hosts countered with a rare moment of class when Pina drew a tremendous save from the keeper with a 20 yard drive. This shot was, to be honest, the Swatcat’s only real chance of the half.

The visitors looked dangerous up front, with the host’s goal line under threat and their defence looking vulnerable. With the rangy Essombe up front, they created a couple of decent chances.

In the 24th minute a well struck free kick hit the bar and El Jadeyaoui headed in the rebound to give the visitors a deserved lead.

A painful first half for Swatcat fans to watch with Ratchaburi dominating and the hosts chasing the game with little success.

The second half saw the introduction of Adiyiah - within seconds he announced his presence when he dabbed in from 4 yards after a fine cross from Velkoski. In a much more spirited second half performance the Swatcats took the game to a tiring Ratchaburi although the continuing tactic of lobbing long balls over the top was not very sophisticated - or effective!!

Adiyiah nearly bagged himself a brace when in the 57^th minute he wriggled and turned in the box to swivel and send his shot narrowly wide – a classy touch from the Ghanaian. Minutes later Velkoski caused havoc in the visitor’s defence when his low cross was scrambled clear.

In a final flourish, Essombe headed just wide and yet again Adiyiah was nearly on target as both teams battled for a winner.

 

Not a bad performance but another unconvincing home result from the Swatcats tonight. Full marks to Ratchaburi who performed well and were able to neutralize the hosts attacking force. In the first half there was only one team in it with Ratchaburi unlucky to be only one goal up at half time.

Without Adiyiah the Swatcats looked totally toothless up front and with Ratchaburi seemingly able to carve up the host’s defence at will, the salvaging of a point was a real bonus for the home team.

A top ten finish is looking increasingly unlikely as each week passes - let’s hope that the team is not dragged into a relegation dogfight.

 I think we all will have to acknowledge that this season, we have a moderately talented team that is trying hard but will at best be a very ordinary mid table outfit ……. OK with me but what waste of potential!!

Match Day 9 stats.

Dateline 8^th April 2017 – Match day 8.

 FT Si Saket 3 NRFC 3

The Swatcats visited the Kouprey’s paddock searching for points to help preserve their mid table position.

The visitors began on the front foot probing for an early breakthrough and in the 14^th minute they were rewarded for their early labours when a fine 22 yard drive from Decha Srandee opened the scoring. One minute later Athibordee slotted home a second after a finely crafted move. The visitors were off to a roaring start!!

The hosts pegged one back in the 25^th minute with a superb 25 yard drive from Assumpcao but with the first half coming to an end Adiyiah spurned a guilt edged chance to put the game to bed when he fluffed from 6 yards out.

The Swatcats were then punished for that miss when, on the stroke of half time the Koupreys equalized when a well taken free kick from Assumpsao squirmed past the keeper

The second half began with the Swatcats falling into an old and much maligned stance – they sat back and allowed Si Saket to come onto them. This led to an almost constant pressure from the Koupreys and a couple of clear cut chances being produced. Inevitably a home goal came when Assumpsao completed a brilliant hat trick in the 88^th minute with a simple tap in.

In an exciting climax to this thrilling match, the Swatcats snatched a point when Akekanat Kongket equalized with literally the last touch of the match. In a match that had almost everything thus far, the referee completed the occasion when he elected to send off the scorer for a reason I could not determine

A superb encounter, with the Koupreys overcoming the Swatcat’s early surge. A disappointing second half for the visitors with Si Saket deservedly going ahead with a superb halt trick from Assumpsao.

A decent performance from the Swatcats and certainly nothing to worry about. Their present position - give or take a place or two, is where I suspect they will end the season.

In truth a slightly fortuitous point for the Swatcats thanks to a last second equalizer…… but great entertainment.

Dateline 3^rd April 2017 – Match day 7.

 FT NRFC 4 Superpower Samut Prakan 0

Struggling and winless Superpower Samut Prakan were the guests in Korat tonight.

A disappointing crowd of 4114 saw the hosts open brightly, utilizing acres of space in midfield as Superpower struggled to maintain any sort of sustained possession. Dominic Adiyiah was, as usual, a constant threat as the men in orange probed.

The Swatcats opened their account in the 14th minute when a 35 yard free kick from Pina crept past the flailing Superpower keeper – a fine effort. Seconds later Athibordee went close with an angled drive.

Unbelievably, in the 17^th minute Pina again scored with a long range free kick – this time from a full 40 yards out. The keeper must take some responsibility for fumbling on the line but another fine effort from the Brazilian.

In the 26^th minute Chakrit drew a fine save from the keeper after good work from Adiyiah as the hosts continued to look dangerous. The pressure paid off in the 35^th minute when Akekanat Kongket  drove home from 7 yards following a corner.

In the 37^th minute Superpower produced a rare chance after some slack defending but as the half drew to a close the Swatcats were well on top.

The second half commenced with Dominic Adiyiah breaking and drawing a fine save from the keeper. The hosts seemed to have taken their foot off the gas early in the half, but in the 75th minute they scored a fourth when Naruphol scored with a curling effort after great work from Adiyiah.

With Superpower restricted to occasional speculative long range efforts, the home defence was rarely tested tonight and with the hosts putting away their chances with relative ease, this was an easy victory.

Make no mistake, Superpower were very poor tonight and based on this performance they will be playing Tier 2 football next year. The Swatcats played well but I still think they will continue to struggle against more impressive opponents. A fine 3 points however and their only losses thus far have been against the mighty Buriram and MuangThong.

Top ten?? maybe…but only just!!!