Dateline 20^th May 2017 – Match day 16.

 FT NRFC 0 Chang Rai 1

An early kick off in this encounter and despite grandstand tickets being reduced from 150bt to 80bt, the match only managed to attract 6571 spectators. One wonders however if this reduction in price was well publicised - I for one did not know about it!!

As the match progressed the Swatcats certainly matched the endeavour of the visitors but Chang Rai looked more crisp and precise when going forward and certainly more confident with their passing.

They broke quickly and with pace and in the 6^th minute Felipe Azevedo went close from 5 yards - an early wake up call for the hosts. The Swatcats countered with a header from Akekanat that went just wide.

Dominic Adiyiah was, as usual, the host’s main threat and he drew a fine save from the keeper with an angled drive but despite all the huff and puff shown by the hosts they looked unlikely to break though, with a couple of weak attempts their only reward.

Chang Rai continued to look dangerous and in the 26^th minute Suriya headed over and as the first half drew to a close, a superb 25 yard effort from Raphael thundered against the bar. One wondered at half time “how long before Chang Rai open the scoring?”

The second half opened with Chang Rai immediately on the offensive and Saranon brought off an excellent save from a close range header - one wondered however why an attacking player was left unmarked in the 6 yard area.

Korat’s response was a long range effort from Chanatphon and a real chance from close range by Velkoski but again despite great effort, there was very little real penetration.

In the 56^th minute, Felipe stuck an angled shot that was deflected rather fortuitously onto the post as Chang Rai strived to open their account. Adiyiah meanwhile shot narrowly wide in an otherwise lack lustre second half performance from the Swatcats.

In the 79th minute the ultimate and decisive demise of the hosts when Chang Rai went ahead with a crisp, close range finish from Felipe - a disappointing end for the hosts but a deserved reward for Chang Rai’s efforts. They could have gone two up with a shot that was well saved by Saranon minutes later and at the other end a Dominic Adityiah cross caused panic in the Chang Rai defence as Korat looked for an unlikely equalizer.

Tonight the Swatcats were beaten by a more polished and superior side. Another decent performance and the team’s effort cannot be faulted but I reiterate - we are just ordinary and really if we are to improve we need a good old “kick up the arse” and someone who can score goals. I cannot understand why we have not filled our foreign player quota - surely a big target man must be on our radar.

 Only 2 wins at home is worrying and if a team cannot pull in the points at home, the team is only going in one direction!! Equally worrying is the obvious disenchantment of the fans that appear to be shunning the club - to be frank, with disappointing home performances, who can blame them!!

Match Day 16 Stats