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