Dateline 19^th May 2018

 FT NRFC 0 Chonburi Sharks 1

Attendance; 4219

Chonburi Sharks were the visitors in tonights mid table clash at a wet 80th Anniversary Stadium.

After a rather sterile and low key start to the match, the visitors began to dominate possession with some free flowing and effective passing movements. The hosts seemed sluggish and unable to string a series of passes together as they laboured to contain the Sharks who appeared to want the victory more.

 The Sharks continued to pull the home team’s defence apart at will and with good off the ball movement from their players with the hosts struggling to get a foothold in the game.

The Sharks endeavours were rewarded in the 18th minute when a defensive error and poor marking handed Worachit a tap in to put them into the lead. The visitors, with confidence growing, continued to dominate possession as the home team wilted and in a half of few chances and the Sharks went in at half time deservedly in the lead.

The second half commenced with the Swatcats, perhaps after a gentle roasting from coach Joksic, showing a little more fight. They were however, still off the pace and Chonburi had a fine early chance to go two up with a Kroekrit drive going narrowly wide. Kroekrit had another chance in the 77^th minute when he broke clear but he punted the ball over the bar.

The Swatcat’s only response was a long range effort from Pina and a scrambled effort following a corner. One of the pitiful lowlights of the second half was Paulo Rangel’s pathetic contribution to the Swatcat’s cause - he really has to go!!

In a late, final flourish Pina drew a fine save from keeper Chanin and Rangel completely miss kicked a golden opportunity to score an unlikely equalizer as the Sharks held on for their three points.

Yet another pretty poor performance from the Swatcats - possibly the worst performance by a Swatcat team in the many years that I have supported them. They lacked their usual vigour and spirit and really were given a footballing lesson by the Sharks tonight. It is hard to see a positive way forward for this team as there are so many problems surfacing with the defence, without Chalermpong tonight, looking disorganized and inept, midfield giving the ball away too freely and our attack now relying on Rangel whose lack of pace and movement is a real worry.

Relegation is now starkly staring the team in the face. It is a battle that can be won but it will take better performances than this to ensure the team’s safety.

Footnote 1: This game saw Dominic Adiyiah’s last match for the Swatcats. He has been a fine servant of the club for three and a half years and he will be missed.

Footnote 2: After tonight’s performance I doubt whether more than half of tonight’s 4219 fans will bother to turn up for the next home match. Here’s looking forward to a sub 2000 crowd for the next home game - fans are simply not going to turn up to watch garbage!!

Match Day 16 Stats