Dateline 31^th July 2019

 FT NRFC 3 Prachuap 1

Attendance; 3615

The Swatcats began the game with fancy midfield passing movements but the final balls were often going astray - much to the chagrin of the home supporters!!

 At the other end, the Swatcat defence seemed vulnerable to Prachuap’s rangy strikers, with an angled drive rolling inches wide of the home team’s post.

The Swatcats continued to dominate and they were rewarded in the 28^th minute when Lee headed in from a corner to give the men from Korat a deserved lead. Minutes later an Assumpcao drive drew a fine save from the Prachuap keeper.

The hosts now flooded forward, searching for a second with Henri and Assumpcao tormenting the visitor’s defence and as the half drew to a close, the score was a fair reflection of the relative performances of the combatants.

The second half began with a typical Korat maelstrom, with billboards flying and fans retreating to the main stand to get cover from the rain. Prachuap opened brightly and keeper Cunningham had to be on his toes to beat out a viciously deflected shot.

Meanwhile, the Swatcats persevered with excellent counter attacking play. An Assumpcao break put Henri clear but his shot was blocked.

Somewhat against the run of play, Prachuap got back into the game in the 59^th minute when a deflected freekick left keeper Cunningham helpless as the shot rolled into the net.

Prachuap were now beginning to tire and were looking vulnerable, so it came as no surprise when yet another break forward from Assumpcao in the 65th minute led to Henri being fouled just outside the box. Assumpcao stepped up and buried the ball in the left-hand corner of the net - surely Assumpcao is the best dead ball specialist in the league.

In the 70^th minute, Amadou (who was having an uncharacteristically quiet night), put Henri clear but the Ivorian’s near post drive hit the woodwork.

The men from Korat finally sealed the deal in the 86^th minute when a mazy run from Assumpcao ended with the ball at Henri’s feet. The striker calmly stuck the ball in to the net to put the hosts 3-1 up.

Hmmm, not too convinced by this performance. The defence was frequently exposed and our attacking force was misfiring today. Nonetheless a vital 3 points. On another day we could have lost this match. It just exposes the fine lines between winning and losing - never mind, my night was complete having met and chatted with one of my former Swatcat heroes Ivan Boscovic!!!

Match Day 21 Stats

Dateline 28^th July 2019

 FT Bangkok United 2 NRFC 2

Attendance; 2362

The Swatcats started without skipper Chalermpong, this could be a big miss tonight.

An uninspiring start to the match in exceptionally hot conditions. The hosts offering the majority of forward play but with no clear-cut chances created.

With the visitors struggling to get out of their own half for long periods, a Bangkok United goal seemed sure to come and in the 21^st minute a well taken free kick was pushed wide by keeper Cunningham as Bangkok pressed.

In one of few, Swatcat forays forward, Lee headed wide from a free kick and as the half meandered to a conclusion, the Swatcats were holding their own against better quality opposition.

The second half began with a bang as Henri swept forward and slid the ball into the net to give the Swatcats a 46th minute lead.

The Angels continued to dominate, but a break forward by Assumpcao was thwarted with Henri set to tap in. The Angels immediately countered with Bonilla shooting into Cunningham’s arms.

In the 55^th minute Assumpcao was taken down from behind in the box and a penalty was awarded. Henri converted the spot kick to give the visitors an unlikely 2 goal lead.

The visitors now sat back but the hosts still offered little in terms of chances but eventually, the Angels pulled a goal back in the 80^th minute when Chananan hammered in to give the visitors the jitters and then seconds later Bonilla equalized with an angled shot.

 In a frantic last few minutes, Cunningham brought off a world class save from a clever swiveled shot from Chananan as the visitors held on for a well-deserved point.

Well, a point but it could have so easily been three. The team were not overawed by a disappointing Bangkok United team, defended well and took advantage of two defensive errors.

An encouraging performance. Well done boys!

Match Day 20 Stats

Dateline 21st July 2019

 FT Trat FC 2 NRFC 1 

Attendance; 3959

The Swatcats headed south for this weekend’s clash with the White Elephants, they started with the “big 4” - a bold selection for an away game.

In front of raucous away support, and on a heavy pitch, the visitors opened brightly but a fine solo goal from Doumbouya put the hosts ahead in the 15^th minute. Seconds later he nodded in a second but as replays proved he was ruled erroneously offside.

As the Swatcats struggled in midfield a weak effort from Hartmann and a cross shot from Amadou was all they could muster as the half progressed.

The hosts had another goal ruled offside in the 28^th minute as they continued to savage the Swatcat defence, then Hartmann had a point-blank header knocked over by the host’s keeper.

As the half drew to a close Pralong went close with a free kick and minutes later, the Swatcats were awarded a penalty when Henri was hacked down inside the box. Henri slotted the penalty kick home to send the visitors in at half time, rather fortunately, on even terms.

The second half opened with Hartmann replaced by Akekanat in order to bolster the visitor’s defence - I predict a tough 45 minutes ahead!! Trat continued to look very dangerous up front with the Swatcats unable to gain any real traction in midfield.

The hosts were now exerting almost continuous pressure with Jurosinmi testing keeper Cunningham with a low drive and inevitably Trat went ahead when Bireme blasted into the net in the 75^th minute.

Late drama as Doumbouya spurned a great chance to make it three when he missed from 6 yards with only the keeper to beat, he then had the rebound from the keeper kicked off the line.

A sloppy first half defensive display and unfortunately, the Swatcats were outplayed for most of the game by a superior Trat outfit.

Coach Joksic cannot afford to play Henri, Hartmann, Assumpcao and Amadou, it leaves the side unbalanced and understrength in midfield. Bold coaching undoubtedly, but our slide down the table calls for a more defensive approach - I fear dark days ahead - what a disappointment.

Match Day 19 Stats

Dateline 13^th July 2019

 FT NRFC 3 Ratchaburi 3

Attendance; 8976

The Swatcats started with Henri, Amadou, Hartmann and Assumpcao - a bold statement of intent!!

The hosts began on the front foot with Amadou threatening. His fine tantalizing cross, 5 minutes in, was met by Hartmann who headed wide.

 It soon became apparent that a fast passing and quick thinking Ratchaburi would be causing problems on the break and sure enough, in the 11^th minute, Lossemy Karaboue lashed in a humdinger from 22 yards to give the visitors the lead.

The Swatcats responded quickly as Amadou put Hartmann clear but he shot wide with only the keeper to beat. Ratchaburi continued to look dangerous, with Karaboue going close in the 26^th minute, as the Swatcats huffed and puffed looking for the equalizer.

Amadou again was the provider as he set up a chance for Assumpcao in the 30^th minute but his low drive went inches wide.

As the half ended, despite having most of the play, the hosts found themselves one down.

The Swatcats came out in the second half with great intent and they were quickly rewarded as Assumpcao equalized when he blasted into the roof of the net from 6 yards. This was the Brazilian’s 100^th TPL goal aided by a delicious, teasing cross from guess who … Amadou.

The Swatcat jubilation was short lived as Ratchaburi regained the lead in the 57^th minute as Steeven Langil headed in following a parried save by Cunningham. Ratchaburi’s rangy strikers continued to torment the Swatcat defence and Langil scored his second to put the Dragons further ahead.

Game over, or so it seemed, as a crestfallen Swatcat outfit, with heads down, kicked off.

Assumpcao had a superb free kick well saved as the hosts pressed and with the Ratchaburi defence sitting deep, perhaps there was hope after all. Assumpcao had yet another free kick superbly saved in the 76^th minute as the Swatcats flooded forward.

With the visitor’s defence tiring Amadou shot into the side netting, then on 89 minutes, the Swatcats pulled one back when Henri nodded in from a corner. 

Unbelievably, in the 93^rd minute, the Swatcats equalized when Amadou blasted the ball into the net after outfoxing two defenders.

Well, a point salvaged after being thoroughly outplayed for most of the match. Things are just not going the Swatcat’s way currently. A fighting finish but the host’s defence was exposed far too often. I cannot fault the team for their endeavour and fighting spirit, but it is becoming clear that the current team is not as good as I thought it was.

Things are very tight mid table and we are becoming perilously close to the drop zone… on the other hand, we are 2 points off 6^th place in the table!!!

Match Day 18 Stats

Dateline 7^th July 2019

 FT Chaing Rai United 1 NRFC 1 

Attendance; 6144

With the Swatcats looking for a positive result after a recent poor run of form, they started with new signing Hartmann up front with Assumpcao missing.

The visitors started adventurously with early pressure, but Chiang Rai had an early chance when William thumped the bar with a shot in the 10^th minute. The hosts then began to dominate with Brinner going close with a header. Almost immediately Henri’s header drifted wide as the Swatcats countered.

The Swatcats settled as the half progressed and were holding their own without creating any real chances, as a rather lackluster half ended goalless with neither side dominating.

The second half saw an early first goal for Chiang Rai when Sivakorn Taitrakal tapped in at the far post after a fine solo run from William. Cunningham was then forced into a save from a close-range header.

At the other end, Akenakat went close with a header from a corner but the visitors were looking stale and sterile up front. Right out of the blue, In the 63rd minute, Hartmann smashed in the equalizer after a fine run from Henri, he then blotted his copybook when he was sent off for a nasty elbow to the face in the 73^rd minute.

 Minutes later, as the Swatcats became more ambitious, a Narupon free kick dipped onto the bar and was cleared.

As the match drifted into time added on, Chiang Rai went close with a near post header, then another header was scrambled away as the home side strived for the winner.

A real battling performance against an under-par Chiang Rai. The Swatcats did not produce much up front which is a continuing worry, but the Hartmann goal was pleasing. The defence looks sound but the important point to emphasize tonight was the fighting spirit shown by the whole squad.

Match Day 17 Stats