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