Dateline 22^nd September 2019

 FT NRFC 4 Samut Prakan City 1

Attendance; 4277

A vital match this weekend with the Swatcats hovering perilously above the bottom three.

On a heavy pitch, the Swatcats opened brightly with the visitors on the back foot. There then began a period of total Swatcat domination, rewarded in the 11^th minute when Henri broke forward from deep within his own half only to be upended in the box by former Swatcat keeper Kampon. The keeper atoned for his error by saving a weak spot kick from Henri.

With Amadou fizzing in midfield, his slide rule though ball in the 17^th minute put Assumpcao clear but his shot was brilliantly tipped over by Kampon.

In the 22^nd minute a dizzy run inside the box from Amadou ended when he thumped a shot against the bar, the ball rebounded to Assumpcao whose rocket shot was superbly saved by hero Kampon.

In a late and rare foray forward by the visitors, keeper Cunningham was forced to push a low drive wide and as the first half drew to a close, Samut Prakan could have considered themselves lucky not to be to be or three down.

 Inevitably, one wondered would the home team rue the many opportunities missed during the first 45 minutes, and as the second period progressed, with glorious inevitability and despite continued pressure from the hosts, Samut Prakan snatched a one goal lead when Ibson Melo slotted home smartly in the 63^rd minute. The lead was short lived as minutes later, Akekanat rose to head in from a corner.

The Swatcats now stormed forward searching for a much needed 3-point haul and with an Akekanat drive drifting just wide and the visitor’s goal under almost constant siege, a second goal looked likely.

There then followed an amazing blitzkrieg that yielded three goals in five minutes. In the 83^rd minute Kampon saved well from an Assumpcao freekick and seconds later Assumpcao shot in from 18 yards to give the Swatcats the lead. The lead was doubled in the 86^th minute when Amadou ended a solo run with a low shot into the corner of the net. Amazingly the Swatcats went four up when Henri stooped to head in an Amadou cross.

Phew, a breathless performance at the right time for the Swatcats and a debut victory for newly appointed coach Chalermwoot Sa-ngapol. This victory puts them 4 points above the relegation zone. There is still much hard work to avoid the drop but a terrific performance to put Samut Prakan to the sword. With the visitors seemingly not up for the fight, this score could have easily been doubled by the marauding men from Korat.

The question now is can this form be replicated in the remaining four games to enable Tier 1 survival - rather bizarrely, the Swatcats are only 4 points below 7th place, coach Joksic’s original target for the season - what am I thinking, survival will suit me just fine!!

Match Day 27 Stats