Dateline 29^th July 2018

 FT Air Force Central 1 NRFC 0

Attendance; 1898

The Swatcats took on league basement side Air Force this weekend. They started without skipper Chalermpong and with Pina and Marinkovic in midfield.

The match commenced in very heavy conditions with heavy rain continuing to fall.

In a rather tentative start by both teams, as they attempted to adapt to the worsening conditions, chances were scarce but the hosts were beginning to dominate possession.

In the 23^rd minute Assumpcao missed a tap in from 4 yards - the first real chance of the match. The Swatcats then began to knock the ball around effectively and Assumpcao was denied a clear penalty when he was pushed in the back.

In a thrilling first half final 5 minutes, Assumpcao was again in action in the 40^th minute when he finished a fine move with a rasping drive that went narrowly wide. Minutes later Marinkovic let fly with a 30 yard thunderbolt that was tipped over by the keeper. From the resulting corner Assumpcao’s shot was cleared acrobatically off the line.

A half of few chances and little excitement drew to a close with the match deadlocked at 0-0.

The second half began with Assumpcao going close as the visitors went on the offensive. He nearly put the visitors deservedly ahead on 60 minutes after a quickly taken throw in, but his shot was parried by the keeper.

Air Force seemed to have run out of ideas as the Swatcats pressed and on the hour had not yet produced a single shot on target.

As the Swatcats seemed to tire, Air Force bounced back, with a drive narrowly wide and a header just over the bar. Cunningham then saved well from an angled drive as Air Force began to take control late in the game.

Air Force broke the deadlock with a 90^th minute winner as Kayne Vincent fired in from 8 yards - unbelievably, their first shot on target in the whole match!!

Disappointing result and back into the relegation mix. This was not a great spectacle, hampered as it was by poor conditions. The Swatcats defended well and Assumpcao could have bagged a hat trick but his poor finishing cost us dearly. We have now made it “squeaky bum” time as we are only 5 points clear of the bottom five. I suspect that we will be safe but with Bangkok United next i.e. no points, we could find ourselves only 2 points clear going into the Asian Games break.

Match Day 25 Stats

Dateline 21st July 2018

 FT NRFC 1 Chainat Hornbills 0

Attendance; 3270

The Swatcats welcomed the Hornbills in this mid table clash. They started with Assumpcao and Malaysian Shahrel up front - still no Yayah Kunath!!

The home team started brightly and Shahrel shot just wide in the third minute. They then began to dominate and with Chainat throwing 3 or 4 men forward in rather a reckless fashion surely openings would be left at the back.

In the 15^th minute, a Chakrit cross was deflected goal ward by a defender but an alert keeper managed to palm the ball just wide of the post - a lucky let off for the visitors. From the resulting Pina corner, Jakkit headed in to give the Swatcats a deserved lead.

The home team continued to create half chances and with any luck could have been 2 or 3 as the half came to an end.

As the second half progressed, the home defence was put to a real test as the Hornbills strived for an equalizer. Sterling work from Lee and Chalermpong aided by T May T, managed to keep the marauding Hornbills at bay. Despite the Hornbill pressure, they did not create real chances and indeed Jakkit almost put the Swatcats two up with a fine drive in the 53^rd minute.

The home team were denied a stonewall penalty in the 64^th minute when Assumpcao was body checked in the box but play was waved on - one of many dubious decisions that tonight’s referee made. Assumpcao then had a clear chance to make it two in the 71^st minute but his low drive was weak. Minutes later he raced through on goal only to be again body checked off the ball just outside the box - again his claim for a foul was turned down!!

Definitely a proverbial “game of two halves - first half, the Swatcats dominated but second half they defended too deep and allowed a spirited and attack minded Hornbill side to put the defence under massive pressure.

A competent performance from the home side and a massive 3 points. I now feel that the team is safe from the drop and indeed should be looking to cement a seventh place finish. Full marks to the club for adding to the squad at a critical time and despite my early season pessimism, the club appears to have rescued its season.

I consider that the club has massively exceeded expectations - well done to everyone at the club. 8 games unbeaten, bottom placed Air Force next weekend and a winnable FA Cup quarter final to come - things are looking up!!

Match Day 24 Stats

Dateline 15^th July 2018

 FT Muang Thong United 0 NRFC 0

Attendance; 6881

The Swatcats visited the home of fallen heroes Muang Thong United this weekend.

The match commenced with the home side pressing. The Swatcats, without the injured Assumpcao, were offering little up front and they were subject to almost constant Muang Thong pressure.

Coelho had a couple of headers just off target as the pressure built and the home side had a bullet of a shot hammer the post as the visitors continued to live dangerously.

Completely against the run of play, Yaya Kunath went close on the break then seconds later T Mat T struck a fine shot that the keeper tipped just over.

In the 36^th minute Ekkachai was shown a red card for barging into the referee after a series of decisions had gone against his teammates. A silly reaction by Ekkachai and the referee had no option than to order the player off.

As the first half drew to a close, firm defending and a large dollop of luck prevented the home team from breaking the deadlock but perversely, the Swatcats could be one or two up!!

As the second half commenced, one had to wonder could the Swatcats possibly hold out for another 45 minutes!! The expected onslaught continued but Pralong Sawandee hit a free kick that rattled the crossbar in a rare Swatcat foray forward.

Coelho went close in the 62^nd minute and Heberty drew a fine save from keeper Cunningham in the 65^th minute but Muang Thong seemed to be slowly running out of ideas as the visitors defended resolutely.

Pralong Sawandee had a speculative shot in the 83^rd minute but the hosts continued to probe, searching for that elusive winner. Sawandee had a late chance to win the game with a 22 yard free kick but he fired over and the game concluded goalless. 

A brave Swatcat performance tonight as they challenged a much superior Muang Thong outfit. A well earned and valuable point that extends the Swatcat’s unbeaten run. Pralong Sawandee was exceptional and Yaya Kunath looked lively throughout and did enough to earn himself a regular berth in the side.

Match Day 23 Stats

Dateline 7^th July 2018

 FT NRFC 2 Ratchaburi 1

Attendance; 2559

The Swatcats welcomed the Ratchaburi Dragons this weekend with skipper Chalermpong making his 100th appearance for the club.

The match kicked off in a near empty stadium - I have never seen it so bereft of fans.

Ratchaburi looked quite lively in early exchanges and with the home team unable to maintain possession, an early Dragon goal seemed likely. The Swatcats fought back however and a series of corners eased the pressure. They then created a couple of half chances as they grew into the game and Marinkovic went close with a long range shot.

In the 43^rd minute, a clever lob from Pralong Sawandee bounced tantalizingly off the crossbar with all defenders looking on in amazement. This was the only real chance in an otherwise uneventful 45 minutes of football.

With the second half  only minutes old, one of the most bizarre own goals I have ever seen was scored by Philip Roller as he sliced the ball in from 16 yards to give the men in orange the lead. Ratchaburi produced a couple of half hearted shots on goal but the Swatcats seemed a little more composed in the second half and began to look dangerous on the break.

The home team now began to dominate proceedings as the Dragons faded and a couple of guilt edged chances were wasted by Assumpcao and Shahrel Fikri. The visitors countered and pushed forward looking for an equalizer, aided, it has to be said, by constant losses of possession in midfield by the home team.

The Dragons deservedly equalized in the 78^th minute when Nerijus Valskis nodded in from a corner. A minute later the Swatcats regained the lead with a superb, diving header from Assumpcao.

In a late surge, Ekkachai went close on two occasions in a turbocharged finish for the home team as they swept forward looking to seal the three points but they were unable to add to their tally.

Fleetingly up to 7^th place and a vital and well deserved 3 points but there is no doubt that the team is struggling. The inability to maintain possession is putting massive pressure on the defensive unit and the midfield is failing miserably in its task of providing service for the front men. These are the same problems repeated week after week and one wonders if proficient coaching is taking place.

Match Day 22 Stats