Dateline 30^th June 2018

 FT Sukhothai 1 NRFC 1

Attendance; 2423

The Swatcats took on the Firebats of Sukhothai in another crucial 6 pointer relegation battle.

 The visitors started with new Malaysian signing Shahrel Fikri up front.

Sukhohai opened brightly with Bonilla going close twice in the first 5 minutes but the visitors countered with Shahrel being just wide with a snap header.

With Baggio a constant threat down the right flank, the Firebats looked dangerous and after constant pressure, Bonilla was inches wide with an angled drive in the 19^th minute - the Swatcats goal line was leading a charmed life !!

The home team was awarded a penalty for a clumsy challenge in the 28^th minute and Bonilla converted the spot kick to give Sukhothai the lead. They were unlucky not to go two up when Baggio broke clear but his shot was spectacularly scooped off the goal line by a retreating defender.

Somewhat against the run of play Lee converted a Pina free kick with a far post header to put the Swatcats level in the 42^nd minute.

 The first half drew to a close with Sukhothai looking a far superior side with the Swatcats struggling to make much impact up front and lucky to be on level terms.

In what I anticipate is going to be a tough 45 minutes for the Swatcats, the half opened with Pina missing an absolute sitter on 48 minutes when he shot wide from 10 yards with an open goal beckoning.

The Swatcats were gaining more possession in the second half with Sukhothai tiring but in late drama Sukhothai had a shot controversially blocked on the line with their players claiming that it had crossed the line. With both sides struggling to create clear chances the match drew to a conclusion with both teams happy with a point.

Outplayed in the first half by a team in poor form is not a good omen for the rest of the season but the team fought well and their second half performance was much improved.

Newcomer Shahrel, despite being quite anonymous tonight will, I feel, be a success in the future and should be a perfect foil for Assumpcao.

This is the 4^th draw in a row and 5 matches unbeaten for the Swatcats, the team is ticking over and picking up points which is encouraging - our recent acquisitions should see us just safe come the end of the season.

Match Day 21 Stats.

Dateline 22^nd June 2018

 FT NRFC 0 Police Tero 0

Attendance; 2630

Police Tero were the guests this weekend with both sides struggling just outside the relegation zone.

Tero looked the tidier and more accomplished side as the game progressed with the hosts prone to losing possession in midfield and guilty of the usual chaotic defensive lapses.

Jakkit went close with a clever flick in the 11^th minute and Marinkovic shot over from long range, but generally Tero were passing the ball more successfully and looked more likely to score.

In late first half drama Assumpcao ran onto a through ball and thumped a pile driver against the post - in truth however, this was the Swatcats only cast iron chance of the half.

Despite “bossing” the game, Tero were unable to capitalize as the sides went off at half time with the scores level.

The second half saw Tero go “off the boil” and the hosts exploited this with a series of accomplished attacking raids. Assumpcao was inches wide with a diving header in the 47^th minute and minutes later Jakkit fluffed a fine chance when he mishit a close range shot.

The men from Korat continued to press and Ekkachai drew a fine save from the visitor’s keeper from a close range drive and with Tero beginning to crumble, it became a bit of a turkey shoot as the Swatcats surged forward. Marinkovic spurned a great chance in the 66^th minute when his close range shot was smothered and Assumpcao headed just over as the hosts strived for an elusive winner.

The home team’s surge inevitably left gaps at the back and Tero themselves accomplished some decent breaks forward with N’Drie looking dangerous, indeed he drew a fine save from Cunningham in the 85^th minute.

A pretty ordinary but typical first half performance where the Swatcats were outplayed by a mediocre Tero side followed by a more than encouraging second half during which the team created 5 or 6 clear chances.

Game on, a point gained, unbeaten in 5 games (including League Cup win) and now the fight to stay out of the bottom five is hotting up. Survival is possible but not a certainty. My gut feeling is that we may just survive - points like the one gained tonight are going to prove vital.

Dateline 17^th June 2018

 FT Ubon UMT United 2 NRFC 2

Attendance; 2170

A crucial Isaan Derby as the Swatcats took on strugglers Ubon this weekend. The visitors started with Jakkrit and Assumpcao up front and debut boy Marinkovic in midfield.

In front of a paltry number of fans, Ubon started brightly and they were unlucky when their header struck the post in the third minute. They then went ahead in the 23^rd minute after yet another blunder by keeper Cunningham - he really has to go!!

With Ubon beginning to dominate, the Swatcat team seemed to fall to pieces with constant surrender of possession in midfield resulting in almost continuous pressure on their defence.

Ubon went two up in the 40^th minute when they carved through the Swatcat excuse for a defence and Cunningham let a fairly tame angled shot go under his body on the near post.

An inept first half showing from the Swatcats and lucky to be only two down - they are making a second rate Ubon side look like Champions!!

Ubon continued to torment the men from Korat as the second half progressed with the defence in complete disarray and with the visitors unable to string passes together further Ubon goals looked likely.

A glancing Akekanat header in the 57^th minute that bounced just over the bar was the first real chance that was produced by the visitors as they continued to labour.

In the 69^th minute, after smart work from Marinkovic, he was fouled inside the box and a penalty was awarded. Assumpcao converted the spot kick to reduce the deficit. The Swatcats then began to dominate as Ubon sat deep and an equalizer looked likely. Paitoon Nontadee was inches wide with an angled shot, then Assumpcao stroked in the equalizer in the 86^th minute.

An unlikely point after an extremely poor first half performance.  The second half performance was better as Ubon faded but really this was a mediocre overall performance and one that does not give me much hope for survival.

Match Day 19 Stats

Dateline 9^th June 2018

 FT NRFC 2 Suphanburi 2

Attendance; 4652

A mid table battle this weekend as the Swatcats welcomed Suphanburi. 

The Swatcats started with debutees Assumpcao and Jakkit up front.

In a largely uninspiring first half, neither side produced many clear cut chances although Assumpcao had a 25 yard screamer tipped over by the Suphan keeper in the 17^th minute and later in the 27^th minute, he produced a brilliant half volley on the turn that was similarly tipped over the bar.

A decent but not inspiring first half performance from the hosts but with the visitors offering minimal threat, things were looking quite promising with the Swatcats having slightly the better of the play.

In the second half Suphan began to exert a degree of dominance as the Swatcats faltered and as the game became more open, a goal from either side looked likely. The Dragons went close with an angled shot in the 64^th minute and Cunningham brought off a spectacular save minutes later to keep the scores level but from the resulting corner Dos Santos headed in to give the visitors the lead.

In response, the Swatcats had a close range header scrambled clear in the 82^nd minute and minutes later, a shot on target was blocked on the line and the resulting loose ball was unbelievably knocked over the bar from 1 yard out by substitute Phaitoon.

In a frenetic last few minutes, the home team equalized in the 92^nd minute when Kittipat Wongsombat scrambled the ball over the line. Then, before the home supporters could catch their breath, Suphan broke forward and thanks to some school boy defensive work from Cunningham, they regained the lead when Romulo pounced.

With home fans streaming out, the Swatcats equalized again with literally the last kick of the match when a May T shot was deflected past the keeper.

Another disappointing response from the Swatcats but a useful point gained. The additions to the squad, (although it is harsh to judge the changes after one game), do not seem to have changed the way we play - although Jakkit and Assumpcao did look lively.

If I was asked to sum up the current Swatcat side, I would have to comment that they are a very ordinary side who are poorly coached. The defence was a complete shambles at times last night - whose fault is it? - we have a Thai National team player in Chalermpong and a useful Japanese import in Lee in the centre of the defence but they don’t seem to know what they are doing - time to show MIlos Joksic the door I’m afraid - and quickly too before Tier 2 becomes a reality.

Match Day 18 Stats