Dateline 28^th April 2018

 FT Navy FC 1 NRFC 3

Attendance; 2469

The Swatcats visited Sattahip to take on strugglers Navy this weekend.

The match commenced in wet conditions watched by a very sparse crowd but with great support from the visiting Swatcat fans. Chalermpong and Rangel were both back in the opening line up.

Early drama in the 2^nd minute when Ekkachai broke clear but the out coming keeper blocked his shot. Rangel, following through poked the ball just wide. On a very heavy pitch the visitors were gaining the majority of possession in an encouraging start for the men from Korat.

Navy countered and Rodrigo’s drive was well saved by keeper Cunningham as the hosts began to gain a toehold in the game. Cunningham was called upon to make further two great saves as Navy began to dominate.

The Swatcat goal was now being peppered with shots, including an Amadu effort that struck the post, as the visitor’s defence sat deep - so disappointing after the Swatcats encouraging start.

In the 26^th minute, somewhat against the run of play Paulo Rangel nodded in from 9 yards to open the scoring. Minutes later, Cunningham, rapidly becoming a Swatcat hero, saved well again to keep Rodrigo’s angled drive out.

The Swatcats went two up in the 34^th minute, when Rangel turned a Chanatphon cross into the net. Seconds later, Cunningham was again the hero when he leapt high to keep out a vicious drive. I was beginning to think this might be our night!!!

 Unbelievably Rangel completed his hat trick in the 41^st minute when he tapped in a Pina cross

 but Rodrigo nodded in during first half stoppage time to give the home team some hope of a comeback.

The first half concluded with the Swatcats 3-1 up, when in reality they should have been 4-3 down!!

In near farcical conditions with further heavy rain, the second half kicked off and within minutes Rangel missed an absolute sitter when he fired wide from 7 yards. The visitors continued to move forward and Sarawut was denied by a smart save from the Navy keeper.

Rodrigo went close with a long range effort in the 69^th minute but that apart, the Swatcat defence seemed to be in control. In the 75^th minute a superb passing movement was finished by Rangel whose drive was pushed around the post for a corner.

Navy tested Cunningham once more in the 86^th minute and Amadu rattled the post but in the heavy conditions they were unable to launch a comeback as the Swatcats defended bravely.

Unbelievable result for the Swatcats. An excellent smash and grab victory with the team being smuggled out of the stadium wearing striped shirts and carrying bags marked swag. Following on from the Buriram game the team played some excellent passing movements - especially when breaking forward - I didn’t know they had it in them, although the addition of Sarawut might have helped. I am beginning to think that this team has the guts and talent to perhaps gain a top ten finish - I really have been impressed with their spirit so far this season. Well done again boys !!

Match Day 13 Stats.

Dateline 25^th April 2018

 FT Buriram United 2 NRFC 1

Attendance; 8818

This Isaan derby sees first against seventh as the Swatcats strive to dent Buriram’s title ambitions.

The Swatcats started without Adiyiah, Rangel or Chalermpong. The visitors matched their fellow Isaan outfit in early exchanges and they took an early lead in the 7^th minute when an optimistic low shot from Ekkanat deceived the home keeper and crept into the corner of the net. The hosts immediately raced forward and scored an equalizer through Joo Yun Soo when his deflected shot looped over keeper Cunningham.

Buriram took the lead in the 23^rd minute when Tunez headed in from close range following a corner. At the other end, Masuk had a long range shot that drifted over the bar as the Swatcats counter attacked but generally the Buriram defence seemed to be in control.

The second half commenced with Buriram pressing but despite this early pressure they were unable to increase their lead. In the 73^rd minute Nattapong was offered a guilt edged chance to equalise when he struck the ball over the bar from 2 yards following a corner. Seconds later Masuk went close with a drive and then Ekkachai’s shot was saved following a fine solo run. This flurry of chances seemed to rattle Buriram and they began to defend deeper and following further Swatcat pressure, I felt that Buriram were pleased to leave the pitch with their 3 points intact.

The Swatcats were not overawed by the Buriram side and at times they knocked the ball about effectively but one always thought that Buriram would punish any mistakes and they looked very dangerous at corners and crosses from the flanks.

In the end class prevailed but the Swatcats could leave the Thunder Castle with their heads held high. A high energy performance that was unfortunately not enough to hold the powerful Buriram team. In a strange way, this was one of the Swatcat’s best performances of the season. I would like to see how this line up would fare against lesser opponents than Buriram. Well done lads !!

Match Day 12 Stats

Dateline 22nd April 2018

 FT NRFC 2 Pattaya United 0

Attendance; 8817.

Following 4 defeats in their last five games and with 2 away games to follow, it was absolutely vital for the Swatcats to gain three points in this match.

 The Swatcats started with Rangel up front, but still no Adiyiah and captain Chalermpong was also missing. Samuel Cunningham, having recovered from injury was thankfully back in goal.

The match commenced with Pattaya looking lively but despite the visitor’s pressure, the hosts created a couple of early chances, with Rangel drawing a fine save from the keeper in the 15^th minute as the Swatcats pressed.

The Swatcats opened the scoring in the 20^th minute when Ekkachai slotted home following a corner kick and minutes later, in a bizarre moment, Paulo Rangel was booked and asked to leave the field for wearing a necklace, Paulo was rightfully indignant and had to be pulled away from the fourth official as he argued his case.

The second half saw Pattaya looking for an equalizer but the hosts defended effectively and following a break in the 52^nd minute, Lee headed just wide following a Chanatphon free kick.

Pattaya went close in the 72^nd minute but despite playing some good football in midfield, they created little up front.

The hosts survived a late scare when a goal bound header from Pattaya appeared to be deflected over the bar by a defender’s arm, luckily no penalty was awarded. I suspect that if VAR had been available the decision would have been changed.

In the 86^th minute Naruphol was hauled to the ground inside the box. A penalty was awarded but Rangel’s effort was well saved by the keeper.

The Swatcats sealed the victory with a second, deep into injury time, when Ekkachai broke clear and stroked the ball in from 10 yards.

Super victory for the Swatcats - well deserved and an important three points that places them in a very respectable seventh place in the league. A sound performance from the whole team who kept their heads despite periods of pressure from a decent and technically superior Pattaya outfit.

Well done boys, now bring on Buriram !!

Match Day 11 Stats

Dateline 11^th April 2018

 FT Bangkok United 2 NRFC 0

Attendance; 1410

After a disappointing home result last weekend, the Swatcats travelled to Bangkok to take on the resurgent Angels in this pre Songkran midweek fixture.

The Swatcats began the match without Rangel or Adiyiah. I assume that this move suggests that the Swatcats harboured no aspirations of a win.

The Angels went ahead in the 20^th minute when Robson Fernandes prodded in at the far post. The hosts began to dominate and with the Swatcats offering little up front, it was hard to see how the men from Korat could salvage anything from the game.

The hosts almost went two up when an angled shot was pushed just wide by keeper Todsaporn

Sri-reung. From the resulting corner, the keeper was again called into action when he saved a low drive. The hosts continued to press and again went close when they rattled the crossbar with a fine shot in the 45^th minute.

The second half opened with the hosts continuing to press and they went two up when a defensive slip allowed Ekkachai Samre to drill home in the 63^rd minute. With the Swatcats struggling to create anything up front, the Angels continued to probe looking for their third.

As the match drew to its conclusion, Ekkachai nearly scored a consolation goal in the 90^th minute when his shot struck the crossbar - probably Korat’s only real chance of the half.

An inevitable and deserved victory for Bangkok United. Not a bad performance from the Swatcats, they were simply beaten by a better team. The visitors simply did not have the defensive ability to keep the Angels at bay.

Yaya Kunath was lively and must be given a regular berth in the team but having said that, without Rangel and Adiyiah there was nothing up front. Tonight’s team was without Cunningham (injured), Rangel (not sure why), Adiyiah (thigh injury I think), Akenekat (injury) and Lee (suspended) so all in all not a surprising result.

Match Day 10 Stats

Dateline 8th April 2018

 FT NRFC 0 Air Force Central 1

Attendance; 10442.

Air Force were the visitors this weekend looking for their first victory of the season.

In a largely sterile first half in which Air Force defended deep and with great numbers, the hosts found it difficult to pierce the defence despite some clever passing movements down the flanks.

Rangel’s drive, going narrowly wide on 21 minutes, Nattapong’s near post header and  Ekkachai’s disallowed goal for offside, were the only highlights in the first 45 minutes.

The second half saw the hosts pressing effectively and having the better of the play but apart from a couple of long range shots on target, the Air Force defence stood firm and prevented any real danger from developing. Rangel had two chances, one header he put just wide and a second header was saved comfortably by the keeper.

The match was settled in the 73rd minute when Jaycee John turned and clipped the ball into the net. Somewhat against the run of play, this goal was a bitter pill to swallow and the Swatcats were unable to respond, although Rangel went close in the 70^th minute when his header bounced over the bar.

A disappointing evening for the Swatcats, basically throwing away some of the advantage that they had gained in their early season surge. They were slightly unlucky to lose this one - the winning goal was one of few chances that the visitors had created.

A minor setback but not the end of the season’s dreams, let’s keep fighting.

Match Day 9 Stats

Dateline 31st March 2018

 FT   Chainat Hornbills 1 NRFC 2

Attendance; 2517

The Swatcats travelled to Chainat hoping to avoid their third successive defeat. The visitors started without injured keeper Cunningham and Dominic Adiyiah was replaced by Yayar Kunath.

In the opening exchanges, the Swatcats had the majority of possession and Yayar had a great early chance but he headed over from close range. In the 21^st minute a Swatcat counter attack allowed Decha to break through the middle and drive home to give the visitors an early lead. The visitors then defended well for the rest of the half to preserve their lead and went in at half time one up.

The Swatcats were rocked when, within seconds of the start of the second half, Bireme nodded in to equalize the scores. In the 54^th minute a quickly taken free kick put Yayar clear with only the keeper to beat but the keeper managed to smother the ball and it was cleared.

The game progressed with neither side creating real chances although Chanatphon went close with a drive on 72 minutes.

In what was becoming a bit of a stalemate in which neither team seemed to want the three points on offer, the ball was ping ponged around to no great effect.

Just as it seemed that a draw would be the final result, late drama when Rangel was fouled on the edge of the box in the 92^nd minute. Pina slotted home the resulting free kick.

 Minutes later in the 94^th minute, Lee kicked out at a defender in the box and after a VAR consultation no penalty was awarded but Lee was dismissed. Apparently the ref had blown for a free kick against Chainat moments before the Lee kick, hence no penalty.

Five wins from eight games is fantastic - that’s already half of our victories last season - let’s all enjoy it while it lasts.

There is a pattern emerging. The Swatcats press well and they fight for every ball in midfield. Their determination and fighting spirit is going to overcome many technically superior sides this season. Yayar Kunath impressed me tonight. I am wondering whether a Yayar/Adiyiah partnership may cause defences more problems than Adiyiah partnering with a rather static Rangel.

Match Day 8 Stats.