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.