Dateline 13^th May 2018

 FT Prachuap Kiri Khan 2 NRFC 1

Attendance; 4158

The Swatcats face a daunting task as they take on high flying Prachuap this weekend. Still no Adiyiah (and no Pina either) but there was a welcome return for Metee Taweekulkarn (T May T) after a long period out through injury.

The match started in a rather low key fashion but the match burst into life in the 10th minute when Cunningham misjudged a cross and the resulting, lobbed header from Prachuap was hooked off the line by a grateful Decha.

The hosts went close again in the 18^th minute when a shot edged wide of the upright but the men from Korat appeared to be holding their own as the half progressed.

The Killer Wasps opened the scoring in the 31^st minute with a diving header from Doumbouya that looped over Keeper Cunningham and with the Swatcats offering little up front my thought at this point was “game over”.

The second half commenced with Prachuap pressing but in the 60^th minute Rangel’s far post header nearly crept in as the keeper scrambled to keep the ball from crossing the goal line - perhaps the Swatcats first chance of the match!!

The hosts almost went two up in the 64^th minute but the Swatcats were first saved by the post and then by a fine save from Cunningham.

With the visitors unable to capitalize on a brief period of second half pressure, Prachuap went two up in the 87^th minute when Reis turned in a cross. Korat answered almost immediately when they pulled one back with a looping freekick from Pralong Sawandee. In a final flourish the Swatcats almost salvaged a point when Lee rattled a shot against the upright with literally the last kick of the match.

Well, nothing was expected from this game and nothing is what we got. An OK defensive performance against the in-form Prachuap but I can recall only a couple of significant chances produced by the visitors. Rangel, despite his recent hat trick, is simply not good enough and the continued absence of Adiyiah is adding to our woes up front.

The team now needs to concentrate on gaining points from lesser teams, particularly at home - the relegation battle has belatedly begun – buckle up, gird your loins, it’s gonna get tough!!

Match Day 15 Stats