Dateline 29^th June 2019

 FT NRFC 0 PTT Rayong 1

Attendance; 10371

The Swatcats started with new signing Narupon in midfield and Hartmann on the bench.

The hosts began breathlessly, roaring forward straight from the whistle and within minutes, Amadou headed an Assumpcao freekick against the upright. Minutes later Assumpcao had a drive blocked after fine work from Henri - this was surely going to be a rout.

In the 8^th minute the Rayong keeper saved well from a Naruphol cross shot and as the Swatcats continued to press, first Henri then Naruphol went close.

With the PTT goal now under constant siege, Henri broke clear but his low drive was saved, I am beginning to think that this is not going to be our day!!

The siege continued with Henri again thwarted when his shot from 8 yards was well saved.

In the 41^st minute, Rayong entered the Swatcat half with any real intent for the first time and as the first half ended, was I in a dream? Was the score really 0-0.

The second half began with, guess what, more Swatcat pressure. Three minutes in, Assumpcao’s brilliant swerving drive was equally brilliantly saved by the PTT keeper.

Shock, horror PTT had the temerity to enter the Swatcat half again in the 52^nd minute - but to no avail as the men from Korat continued their assault. Amadou hit an excellent snap shot inches wide and in the 59^th minute Assumpcao struck the upright with a sumptuous swerving shot leaving the keeper floundering. The ball then bounced back to Henri whose shot hit the base of the upright and was ultimately cleared.

In now what must be becoming boring reading, Henri shot inches over from close range.

With desperation and frustration building and men flooding forward, the impossible happened. Rayong had their first shot on target in the 68^th minute - and it went in. A combination of throwing too many men forward and inept defending presented the visitors with a goal as Pornpreecha Jarrunai slotted home from 16 yards.

With the stuffing knocked out of the team they pushed on but truth be told, I think that they realized it was not going to be their night. Hartmann was brought on for his debut and as the hosts battled on, Amadou shot over from 6 yards with only the keeper to beat and Assumpcao fired wide from 20 yards.

In a final flourish, Hartmann was put clear inside the box by a clever through ball from Henri but he shot wide from 7 yards.

  A fair result would have been Swatcats 8 PTT 1, but life is not fair is it!!

I have rarely seen such a one-sided football match, with the Swatcats having AT LEAST 90 % of play, only a combination of wretched luck and poor finishing prevented a rout by the hosts. A fine attacking performance but a disappointing result - it’s a funny old game!!

No need to panic, this was certainly a “one off” - at least we are creating chances, results will come.

Match Day 16 Stats

Dateline 22^nd June 2019

 FT Sukhothai 1 NRFC 0

Attendance; 3182

In early exchanges, both sides passed the ball around smartly with the Firebats having slightly the better of play. As the 20 minute mark approached, neither side had managed a shot on target.

In the 26^th minute Henri broke clear after an Assumpcao through ball, but his close-range effort was blocked. This one incident of excitement was the sole highlight as a largely unremarkable half drew to a close.

The second half began and my thought was that only a touch of brilliance from perhaps Amadou or Baggio could break the deadlock in what was becoming a largely sterile performance from both sides.

As in the first half both teams found it difficult to create chances but with the visitors trying to be more assertive, they looked more likely to score the opener.

 Kongnateechai Boonma had a great chance to put the home side in front in the 68^th minute but he shot over. The Swatcats countered and Kunath put in a swerving drive.

Baggio broke the deadlock in the 81^st minute with a fine swerving drive, He nearly doubled the lead in the 86^th minute, but his low drive was saved by keeper Cunningham.

My, my that was tough viewing, what a dreadful spectacle. A mediocre performance from the Swatcats who were beaten by a touch of class from Baggio. Absolutely nothing up front from the visitors who deserved nothing from this match.

 A most disappointing end of Leg 1 for the Swatcats but still in 7^th place in the league. This is probably where we will be come season’s end and I guess will represent progress for Milos Joksic’s squad.

Match Day 15 Stats

Dateline 15^th June 2019

 FT NRFC 2 Chainat Hornbills 1

Attendance; 5824 (looked to be around 10k)

Hornbills from Chainat were tonight’s guests.

The hosts were quickly on the front foot looking for early rewards but stout Hornbill defending prevented an early breakthrough. In what was rapidly becoming one-way traffic, frustratingly, the final ball in from the hosts was often disappointing. At the other end, against the run of play, Chainat forced Cunningham into a fine save from a freekick just outside the box.

The Swatcats finally broke the deadlock on 38 minutes when Assumpcao fired in after good work on the flank from Henri.

In late first half scares, Santos managed to get in behind the defence but fluffed the chance of an equalizer from 3 yards out, he again went close when he shot inches wide seconds before the half time whistle.

A frustrating half came to an end with a dominant display from the Swatcats yielding only a solitary goal.

In the 51^st minute, following a foul on Henri, Assumpcao stroked a superb free kick past the opposition keeper to put the Swatcats two up, minutes later he spurned his chance of a hat trick when he shot tamely at the keeper following a mazy run from Amadou.

Assumpcao was again in the frame for a hattrick when an Henri through ball put him clear with only the keeper to beat. His carefully flighted shot was superbly (and acrobatically) saved by the Chainat number one.

As the game petered out, Chainat scored a late consolation goal when Chatri Rattanawong slid in from 10 yards in the 91^st minute.

Another disciplined and determined attacking display tonight and a deserved 3 points. I know I sound like a stuck record but our attacking trio really are on fire. Chainat were disappointing but these are the sort of games that we would have lost in past seasons. We are just one creative midfielder away from being a top 4 team - Ariel Rodriques from PTT Rayong would fit the bill, let’s go get him!!

Footnote: T May T played his 100^th game for the Swatcats tonight.

Match Day 14 Stats