Dateline 29^th September 2018

 FT Chonburi 3 NRFC 1

Attendance; 3769

As the game commenced, the Swatcats had an early let off when they carelessly gave the ball away in midfield and only a great save from Cunningham avoided a disastrous opening. In the 5^th minute, we saw the other side of keeper Cunningham when he mis controlled a back pass and presented Kroekrit with the ball. Kroekrit accepted the gift and tapped in to give the Sharks an early lead.

The visitors persevered in midfield but the inability to convert possession into chances was, as usual, evident. Assumpcao had a free kick blocked in what was one of few chances managed in the opening exchanges.

As Chonburi began to dominate, Ciro almost made the most of poor Swatcat defending when he nipped in and drew a near post save from Cunningham. Minutes later, more woeful defending presented an unmarked Worachit with a tap in on 32 minutes to put the Sharks two up.

On 38 minutes, Assumpcao gave the Swatcats a glimmer of hope when he beat two defenders on the edge of the box and fired in from 12 yards - a fine solo goal.

In the dying seconds of the first half, VAR drama, as the official checked whether Cunningham had brought down a Chonburi striker. He quickly decided that there was no offence committed.

                                        

The second half was largely played in farcical conditions as the heavens opened to produce a deluge that I have rarely experienced at a Thai football match. Constructive football was a nonstarter, although by then, Chonburi had already sealed a victory. The only highlights of note - barely visible through the stair rods of falling rain, were a Nebihi dazzling solo run through the defence ending in a tame shot and the Shark’s third goal, a weak shot from Kroekrit that literally crawled across the waterlogged pitch into the net to evade a stranded Cunningham.

Another insipid display, rather typical of the Swatcats’ recent performances. Little up front and tonight fragile at the back. The second half maelstrom had negligible effect on the result although it did reduce the match to farce. Sheltering under the stand with fellow boisterous Swatcat followers during the storm did nothing to reduce the malaise of tonight’s spectacle. How I yearned for the comfort and cover of my usual seat in the main stand at the 80^th Anniversary Stadium!!

Match Day 32 Stats

Dateline 22nd September 2018

 FT NRFC 3 Prachuap Kiri Khan 3

Attendance; 2372

Striker Jakkit looked lively in early exchanges as the Swatcats probed - he is not the finished article just yet but I feel he will make a useful target man in the future. Despite the home team having the better of early encounters, Reis drew a fine save from Cunningham in the 18^th minute.

The Swatcat’s approach play was fine tonight but often the final pass went astray as they pressed for an early advantage. The home team’s first real chance came in the 31^st minute when Akekanat headed a Pina corner onto the crossbar. Almost immediately Prachuap broke forward and Reis missed from 8 yards with only the keeper to beat.

With the game suddenly bursting into life, the home team went ahead when Kitsada swept the ball in at the far post after a fine break from Ekkachai.

As the half drew to a close, the home team looked good value for their 37^th minute lead.

In the 49^th minute Ekkachai pounced on a poor clearance from the keeper and sent a 40 yard rocket just inches wide of the upright. As the Swatcats began to dominate, Assumpcao went close in the 54^th minute and in the 64^th minute they went two up when Shahrel tapped in after fine work from Pina.

Prachuap struck back immediately when a deflected Doumbouya shot looped over keeper Cunningham. The home team, still looking composed, was denied a third goal when a sharp near post header from Jakkit stuck the upright.

The points were seemingly in the bag when Assumpcao headed in on 72^nd minutes and with coach Joksic looking very emotional on the sidelines, things were looking bright for the men from Korat.

With the Swatcats now rampant, Jakkit fired in from 20 yards, the keeper parried and the ball fell to Assumpcao’s feet but he failed to make a clear contact and the ball was cleared.

With a comfortable and deserved 3-1 lead, the hosts relaxed and Prachuap took full advantage of this lapse. An unmarked Doumbouya nodded in on 81 minutes and the visitors completed the comeback in the 93^rd minute when Cunningham dropped an innocuous looking shot and Reis tapped in.

The referee used VAR to review the incident but he allowed the goal.

Two points dropped against a poor Prachuap side - as it happens it doesn’t really matter but disappointing none the less. Joksic started with two real strikers at last - Jakkit and Assumpcao and we scored three goals - perhaps the penny has finally dropped.

Tonight’s performance was fine but why can’t the coach realize that his recent ploy of playing Akekanat - a wing back - as the sole striker is probably not the best strategy. Perhaps the attendance figure is testament to the coach’s negative tactics. Fans will not turn up to watch a team averaging 2 or 3 shots on target per match.

League Cup Semi final played at Supachalasai Stadium

FT Chang Rai United 1 NRFC 1

Chiang Rai United beat Nakhon Ratchasima 3-1 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw at the Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok. 

Chiang Rai started brightly and had the first effort on goal in the sixth minute when Phititwat struck his drive wide from 20 yards. After continual pressure, the Beetles opened the scoring five minutes later when Chaiyawat fired in.

In a half completely dominated by Chang Rai whose movement off the ball and slick passing left the Swatcats players chasing shadows, the men from Korat were lucky to go into the half only one down.

The phrase “the team did not turn up tonight” might have been ascribed to the Swatcats in the first half and at half time, it was difficult to see away back for the men in orange.

The second half commenced with a more determined approach from the Swatcats and they began to exert pressure on the Chang Rai defence. In the 49^th minute Kunath went close with a clever header after a chipped pass from Pina. Chang Rai then countered and Siwakorn smashed in from 12 yards but the keeper managed to beat his drive away.

In the 68^th minute a vicious Pina free kick was headed off the line as the Swatcats searched for an equalizer. With time running out, the Swatcats continued to dominate and their dominance was rewarded when they won a penalty in the 72^ndminute. Thanasak brought down Leandro and the Brazilian took the kick himself, firing low into the corner to level the score.

On 78 minutes Swatcat elation was turned to despair when, with Chiang Rai fading, Jakkit slotted home at the far post but the flag was up for offside.

Full time ended with the Swatcats looking the stronger of the two teams although Sivacorn had a chance to win the tie in the dying minutes with his rasping drive going narrowly wide.

A largely uneventful first period of extra time was followed by a second period in which the Swatcats had their chances to seal the tie. Assumpcao prodded over from 6 yards out and then the striker had a real chance to win it when he swiveled but his shot went straight into the keeper’s arms.

The tie then went to penalties and misses from Shahrel, Jakkit and Chanatphon sealed the tie for Chang Rai.

Dateline 12^th September 2018

 FT NRFC 2 Navy FC 1

Attendance; 1465

In a distinctly miserable and wet midweek evening, strugglers Navy were the guests.

The visitors opened brightly, out passing the home team and looking dangerous moving forward. They seemed to be coping better with the sodden pitch but were nearly shocked in the 6^th minute when a long range Antonio Pina free kick went inches wide.

The Swatcat defence was opened up in the 11^th minute when a cross found Amadou completely unmarked in the 6 yard box - there was no defender within 3 yards of him!!! He slid the ball under Cunningham to give Navy an early lead.

In the 20^th minute the Swatcat defence was again ruthlessly exposed when Caton broke through, unbelievably with only the keeper to beat he shot wide from 6 yards - what a let off!!

As the half progressed the hosts were unable to exert any dominance and indeed, Navy looked the more accomplished side.

The second half saw the Swatcats seemingly determined to overturn their first half deficit and in the 49^th minute, after some fine interplay, Akekanat was just wide with a drive. A minute later Pralong Sawandee put in a delicious cross for Assumpcao to hammer home the equalizer.

The home team now began to dominate as Navy wilted and with almost constant pressure and several fine passing movements, it seemed only a matter of time before the winner would come.

The hosts went close with a diving header in the 60^th minute then Pina tested the keeper with an in swinging corner as the Swatcats pressed. Pralong Sawandee then drew a fine save from the keeper with a swerving free kick.

The chances continued to come as Ekkachai broke forward and only a fine save from his drive prevented a second goal and minutes later another long range free kick from Pina whistled past the post.

Navy caused a solitary moment of panic in the 92^nd minute when the ball ping ponged around in the 6 yard box following a corner but the hosts survived and finally the inevitable happened when Jakkit poked the ball home from a sublime cross by Pralong Sawandee to give the hosts a deserved lead.

A real Jekyll and Hyde performance from the Swatcats tonight but in reality safety from the drop has been achieved. An inept and depressing first half performance where in reality they should have been two nil down was followed by a fine domineering display leading to a vital three points.

The importance of this victory was brought home as coach Joksic sank to his knees in the mud as the second goal went in and we can now all relax with 5 games to go and safety assured.

Match Day 29 Stats

Dateline 8^th September 2018

 FT NRFC 0 Buriram United 2

Attendance; 15679

The Swatcats welcomed future TPL Champs Buriram United this weekend.

Right from the start it was apparent that this was going to be a “men verses boys” encounter with Buriram confidently stroking the ball around whilst the Swatcats gamely and at times agriculturally tried to get a toehold in the game.

With Diogo a constant threat (what a player he is), the Buriram players were quicker to the ball and their off the ball movement meant that there was always a passing option. The Swatcats conversely appeared to be laboured and unable to maintain possession.

In the second minute a quick break forward by Osvaldo led to his low drive striking the post - an early warning for the hosts. Minutes later the Swatcats were denied a clear penalty when Chanatphon was tripped inside the box - where is VAR when you need it???

In the 23^rd minute Akekanat swept the ball into the net but was adjudged to be offside - a correct decision from where I was sitting. Buriram continued to push forward and in the 30th minute Osvaldo drew a save from Cunningham after a clever flick from Diogo.

A minute later Diogo finished off a fine flowing move when he swept in from the edge of the box to give the visitors a well deserved lead, and as the half drew to a close it looked a long way back for the men in orange.

The second half commenced with Buriram again in the ascendance with the men from Korat unable to mount a sustainable challenge. Osvaldo was inches wide with an angled drive on 55 minutes and the result was put beyond doubt on 64 minutes when Diogo, in true Diogo style, ran in from deep and swept the ball into the net from 14 yards.

Osvaldo who had been a constant threat all match nearly made it three a minute later when his angled drive went narrowly wide.

The Swatcats were completely outclassed by a side superior in all departments and there is no shame in that. The Swatcats, however, have now managed only 3 shots on target in the last two games. I understand Joksic’s need to grind out the results to avoid relegation but what about the long suffering fans. Sure the massive crowd of 15 000 were entertained by a talented Buriram side but I do wonder how many will turn up on Wednesday for the Navy game.

Football is an entertainment business… in this regard some teams are failing the fans!!!

Match Day 28 Stats

Dateline 5^th September 2018

 FT Pattaya United 0 NRFC 1

Attendance; 2328

An explosive start in this mid table clash when, in the second minute, Antonio Pina sensationally lashed in from 50 yards. This goal will 100% be seen as the goal of the season.

An astonished crowd, after recovering from such an amazing event was then subjected to the most successful rearguard action since Peacock’s Hill!!

Pattaya pressed forward gamely, probing and despite creating chances, were unable to break down the Swatcat’s resolute defence.

A 7^th minute free kick crashed against the visitor’s crossbar and minutes later Cunningham brought off two miraculous saves to keep out home attempts from close range but with the stage being set, the Swatcats dug in and defended deep.

In the 15^th minute, in a rare raid forward, Kunath was denied a stonewall penalty when he was brought down unceremoniously inside the box. Pattaya bounced back and keeper Cunningham was again called into action in the 22^nd minute when he tipped a low drive just around the post.

As the half drew to a close, the home team were well on top but were becoming increasingly frustrated at their inability to break the deadlock.

As the second half began, Pattaya continued to surge forward and in the 60^th minute a long range shot shaved the post and minutes later Cunningham tipped a free kick onto the bar.

In a late flourish Cunningham parried a close range header but despite almost continuous pressure, Pattaya only managed 3 direct second half shots on target - testament I feel to the visitor’s dogged defending.

In the final minute Kunath, through on goal, was upended and the home defender was shown a red card. The resulting free kick from Pina was well saved by the keeper.

Well, this was a result much against the run of play. The visitors shut up shop after the early opener and then a brave rearguard action against a talented Pattaya team resulted in an important three points. That early goal was one of only two attempts on goal for the team and perversely, Pattaya could have scored 4 or 5 but for some real heroics by keeper Cunningham.

The team is, in my opinion, now safe from relegation - well done to the players and coach - I certainly underestimated the team and now we must press for a top 8 position in the league.

A forthcoming semi final berth (and final maybe) coupled with a potential top 8 finish certainly represents a successful campaign. My early season pessimism was thankfully unwarranted and we seem to have survived the pivotal “5 down” season.

Match Day 27 Stats