Sunday 5 August 2018


Dateline 5th August 2018

 FT NRFC 0 Bangkok United 0

Attendance; 4677

The Swatcats welcomed the Angels from Bangkok in this, the last match before the near month long break for the Asian Games.

In a rather bizarre line up, wingback Akekanat was played up front and Malaysian striker Shahrel was played as a wingback - a role he certainly looked uncomfortable in. Yayar Kunath was also given a start.

 In a first half almost devoid of chances the visitors showed great passing skills which resulted in large periods of midfield possession with the hosts unable at times to get the ball from their more talented adversaries. Their possession however was not being rewarded by chances created as the hosts defended bravely.

The Angels were restricted to a single long range shot that drifted wide and a headed half chance from a corner. The hosts for their part went close when Kunath failed to connect with a pin point cross and Akekanat dragged a shot wide.

As a rather entertaining first half concluded, neither keeper had been called into serious action.



The second half started with the hosts beginning to assert themselves as the Angels began to fade. The momentum seemed to have shifted in favour of the hosts as they hunted for a vital first goal.

In the 73rd minute Yayar Kunath connected with a well directed free kick but his header was weak and drifted wide - one thought that if it had been Assumpcao on the end of the free kick, the deadlock would have been broken!!
A minute later, the finest move of the match. Assumpcao broke forward and a deft flick put Jakkit clear. His cross was met by the advancing Assumpcao but his chance was foiled by a combination of defender and keeper and the ball was deflected just wide.

In a late Bangkok surge, Robson was inches wide with a fine drive and then in the 93rd minute Pokklaw Anan’s 25 yard shot shaved the post with keeper Cunningham flailing - probably the Angels first real chances of the match.



Another fighting performance to gain a vital point against a technically superior Bangkok outfit. In a game of precious few chances, the Swatcats, fighting for their very TPL existence, defied the Angels from Bangkok and indeed could have snatched all three points with what was arguably their only clear cut chance of the match.
We now go into the Asian Games break on a relative high, sitting in a creditable 8h place and 6 points clear of the relegation zone.

Match Day 26 Stats






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