Dateline 22^nd October –  Match day 31.

 FT NRFC 2 Ubon UMT United 1

As the 2017 TPL season meanders towards its close, The Swatcats welcomed fellow Isaan outfit Ubon UMT United to the 80^th Anniversary Stadium. This could be a close encounter but with The Swatcat’s recent performances one would not bet against an away win for the Eagles.

In front of another sparse crowd, the home side, again playing in black, opened brightly and they went close on 3 minutes following a goalmouth melee. They continued to dominate possession with Ubon confined to a single long range effort, saved well by keeper Weera.

In the 16^th minute, Dominic Adiyiah was lucky not to be red carded when he lashed out at a defender after being brutally pushed in a challenge. The game then descended into a series of unsavoury challenges from both sides as a certain ill will between the teams developed following the incident.

The Swatcats continued to push forward without creating clear cut chances and as the half ended,

neither side looked capable of breaking the stalemate. In my opinion it is halves of football like this, bereft of excitement, that are keeping the fans away.

The second half commenced with neither side able to produce any decent chances of note, with Adiyiah the only player showing any real spark. Indeed it was Adiyiah himself who went close with an angled drive in the 60^th minute. Minutes later Rangel spurned a great chance when he shot horribly wide with only the keeper to beat.

In the 65^th minute Paulo Rangel fired in from 16 yards after a good cross from Ekkanat Kongket. Following this opening goal, Ubon began to throw more men forward but the home team defended resolutely, managing to keep a spirited Ubon forward line at bay.

In a late goal rush, Dominic Adiyiah ran onto a superb through ball to stroke the ball home in the 91^st minute to give the hosts a 2-0 lead and in the 97^th minute, Ubon pulled one back with  a  20 yard free kick from Thiago

In the end a comfortable victory and three points but two weak sides on display tonight. A match of few chances and apart from the late goal rush, an uninspiring performance from both sides. The team is now up to 12^th place and only one point off 10^th place. This result may temporarily hide the perceived inadequacies of the current Swatcat side but make no mistake, this team will continue to struggle next year unless changes are made.

Match Day 31 Stats

Dateline 14^th October 2017 – Match day 30.

  FT Thai Port 3 NRFC 1

In their final visit to the Capital this season, the Swatcats took on Thai Port in this end of season fixture on which very little depends.

A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect and as part of the mourning period for the deceased King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Swatcats wore a muted and simple black strip as the club’s own mark of respect. In a lovely touch Milos Joksic abandoned his usual jovial pre match posture and adopted a forlorn and respectful pose for the cameras.

On a sodden pitch after afternoon downpours, the match commenced with Port probing forward. With the ball sticking treacherously in the mud, the likelihood of pretty passing football seemed remote. My early thought was that the team who could adapt to a “hump it”, long ball game was going to be victorious.

In the 11h minute an excellent through ball presented Josimar with guilt edged chance but his shot was weak and was smothered by keeper Weera. Minutes later Sergio Suarez shot narrowly wide as Port pressed.

On 20 minutes Ekkanat Kongket shot narrowly over with a speculative shot from 28 yards and minutes later after fine work from Adiyiah, Chanatphon drew a fine save from the home keeper with a rasping drive.

As the half was drawing to a close, Josimar headed goal wards from short range but Weera pushed the ball out. In the resulting melee a penalty was awarded for a trip and David Rochela converted the kick from the spot. Three minutes later the men from Korat were denied a penalty as Ekkachai Rittipan tangled with a defender. He was adjudged to have dived and the visitors were reduced to ten men as he received a second yellow for simulation.

A deserved one goal lead for Port at half time and within minutes of the start of the second half Josimar made it 2-0 with a close range shot. Port now began to take a stranglehold on the game as the Swatcats seemed to capitulate. Shots and crosses rained in as the visitors visibly wilted.

Completely out of the blue and against the run of play, Paulo Rangel headed in on the hour mark to give some impetus to the visitors. The newly awaked Swatcats pressed forward with a couple of chances created as Port seemed to panic under the slightest pressure.

In the 75^th minute Weera failed to come off his line for a cross from a corner and Sergio Gustavo headed in to calm Port nerves. The Swatcats countered with Chakrit firing in an angled drive that was well saved by the home keeper but with 11 minutes remaining the three points looked safe for Port.

In a final nail in the coffin for Korat, Kridsada was sent off in the 92^nd minute for a second yellow card to reduce the visitors to 9 men.

A scrappy and messy encounter between two teams struggling for form. This became a battle of attrition in difficult conditions as the game progressed with Port taking advantage of their home advantage with a comfortable victory.

Disappointing but fairly typical performance from the visitors - little up front, fragile in defence, and unable to maintain possession in midfield.

 I am beginning to feel that Milos Joksic’s days as coach are numbered.

Match Day 30 Stats