Season 2018 Review

After a surprisingly bright start that saw the team soaring into the top 6, the team settled into a comfortable mid table position although, it must be said never more than 4 or 5 points clear of the relegation zone. This was a crucial season for the team, with 5 down, I was not alone amongst Thai football pundits in thinking that they might be one of the favourites for the dreaded drop.

The club’s rather bold mid-season decision to end the contracts of Adiyiah and Rangel and bring in Assumpcao and other supporting squad players appeared to have paid off with improved second leg results.

The low point of the season was the walloping at home by Port followed by another home defeat to Chonburi. These were two dreadful performances and my spirits fell alarmingly as the spectre of relegation loomed large.

Highpoint was probably the run in the league cup, ended unfortunately by the loss on penalties to Chang Rai in the semifinal. A good day out for the fans and a morale booster for the players.

Questions will be asked of coach Joksic. My take is that he has led us to a fairly comfortable mid table finish with an average bunch of players. The team is now established in the Premier League and only investment in better players will help the club to kick on. Unfortunately, I think this is unlikely to happen so the future seems to be mid table obscurity.

Positives are that Malaysian striker Shehrel looks to have a great future with the club and the team’s defence, although at times appearing disorganized has looked fairly secure.

Assumpcao’s future is questionable and I am not sure that he is the right man up front. Coach Joksic’s promise of new strikers being brought in must bring his future into doubt. The coach has also promised that fans will see a more positive approach next season and that he is 100% confident that the team will finish in the top 7 - here’s hoping.

Dateline 7^th Oct0ber 2018

 FT Bangkok Glass 1 NRFC 2

Attendance; 5053

In this the last game of the season, Bangkok Glass needed a solitary point to avoid relegation.

The home team opened brightly, dominating play in the first 20 minutes but not really creating many clear-cut chances. In the 31st minute, a poor Cunningham clearance was returned to Totti who rifled in from 18 yards to give Glass a deserved lead.

With the Swatcat’s usual lack of constructive forward play thus far, this looked like an easy 3 points for the home side.

In a totally unexpected turn of events, the visitors came out of their shell and Akekanat swept in from close range after the home keeper dropped a cross. Minutes later, Tanaboon brought down Assumpcao just outside the box and was shown a red card for the offence. The home crowd was then stunned into silence as Assumpcao fired in beautifully from the free kick as they saw their side stare relegation in the face.

At half time The Swatcats were lucky to be 2-1 up and Glass were beginning to look anxious and panic stricken.

The second half began and the expected onslaught from Glass came. An 18-yard free kick was deflected just over Cunningham’s bar but the host’s desperate surges forward of course left gaps at the back and Akekanat was unlucky with a glancing header.

Glass continued to play the better football but the Swatcat’s defensive resolve was proving hard to conquer. They pressed, as in the first half, but again clear-cut chances did not come. In the 58^th minute, man of the match Akekanat kicked clear in a goalmouth scramble to defy Glass and on 67 minutes an angled drive flew just over.

 In the 79^th minute a delightful cross presented Kunath with a chance to tap in, but unbelievably he mistimed his effort and the ball was cleared.  Glass countered and in another goalmouth scramble Cunningham bravely cleared the danger. With increased desperation Glass flooded forward and Decha this time was the hero as he cleared a dangerous situation. A minute later Cunningham saved miraculously from a point-blank header as the pressure built.

In the 80^th minute Cunningham was again the hero when he pushed out a close-range shot - he took a real battering tonight as for the third time, a Glass forward clattered into him - he really is a warrior in times of need!!

With crosses raining in and Glass’s desperation growing the Swatcat defence time and again cleared their lines and in the 80^th minute Cunningham brought off another blinder of a save from a close-range shot.

 In the closing minutes, Bangkok Glass’s defence was again found absent when substitute Shehrel blasted over with only the keeper to beat - in reality, despite Glass’s pressure, the Swatcats had produced more quality chances.

In a final desperate and final flourish, Totti went close in the dying seconds but the visitors held on for the victory.

A dour defensive performance which sent Bangkok Glass plummeting down into Tier 2. A lucky 3 points, however the defence must be commended for some brave and at times heroic work to keep Glass at bay.

7th place in the league following this result - a commendable effort from an average bunch of players who have been coached - by necessity I believe, to avoid defeats. Not great to watch but the alternative, especially in this 5 down season was relegation!!

Match Day 34 Stats and end of season table

Dateline 3^rd October 2018

 FT NRFC 1 Chang Rai 1

Attendance; 2356

The home team started adventurously with Shehrel and Jakkit breaking positively down the right flank. This strategy was rewarded in the 13^th minute when Akekanat ghosted into the box to nod in from a free kick.

After near constant pressure, on 20 minutes, Assumpcao launched an angled drive that was well saved by the visitor’s keeper. Kitsada also went close with decent shot as the Swatcats pressed. Minutes later Noppol put in a bullet header from a corner. This effort was thwarted by a world class save from the keeper.

With the Swatcats seemingly well in control - in fact probably the best half of football played by the team this season, they were shocked by a fine shot that Cunningham managed to tip over and then on the stroke of half time, Sarawut converted a corner with a fine header to level the scores

.

As the first half drew to a close, the Swatcats were perhaps unlucky not to be ahead.

The second half started with the home team trying to regain their lead, but Chang Rai had other ideas. Striker Bill went close in the 50^th minute and minutes later Cunningham brought off an excellent save from a 20-yard free kick.

With the visitor’s confidence growing by the minute, Bill spurned a great chance when he hooked over from 6 yards - the Swatcats were living dangerously!! These chances apart, the second half yielded little of merit and as the game petered out, one’s thought was that a draw was a fair reflection of the game.

In a game punctuated by incidents of brutish behaviour from Chang Rai players and 9 intermissions for players to receive medical attention, this was a decent if not spectacular performance from the Swatcats. If nothing else, the point gained tonight cements their tenure within the Premier League.

With the possibility of a top ten finish within the team’s reach, I guess the season might be viewed by some as a successful campaign - I personally am on the fence in this regard.

Match Day 33 Stats