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