Dateline 29^th February 2020

 FT Ratchaburi 1 NRFC 0

Attendance; 3794

The Swatcats head to Ratchaburi this weekend for their fourth successive away game due to renovations at the 80^th Anniversary Stadium.

After slow start in front of a meagre crowd, the home side settled and began to confidently knock the ball around. A long-range shot slid ominously past the Swatcat upright in the 17^th minute as Ratchaburi pressed.

Playing a solid 5 at the back, the Swatcats sat deep with little attacking ambition, inviting the Dragons to flood forward. Samuel smothered a Jakapan effort in the 26^th minute and then a Boli shot shaved the bar as the keeper floundered.

It seemed that the Swatcats must succumb to this continual pressure as Samuel again saved a goalward shot. At the other end, zilch, absolutely zilch - my question 30 minutes in, was, “can we get away without a real shellacking”.

Well, 0-0 at half time, with no hope of a goal from the visitors and a good bet that Ratchaburi would score at least a couple in the second half.

The second half began with more Ratchaburi pressure with Samuel placed under massive pressure on a couple of occasions. The visitors continued to defend bravely with the team rarely getting out of their own half or managing to put a couple of passes together.

Out of the blue, a mazy run and delicious Amadou cross nearly found the head of Murillo and it sailed inches wide of the far post, seconds later Assumpcao found himself clear but his low shot was saved by the keeper.

With the home side getting frustrated and resorting to long balls forward, a point was looking possible, and in a late flurry, Pralong hit the post with an angled shot then Amadou had a goalward shot blocked. From the resulting corner Assumpcao had a header saved on the line and the ball was scrambled away.

In the 92^nd minute Amadou was sent off after his second innocuous challenge and following intense late pressure, Ratchaburi snatched a winner in the 94^th minute when Javier Patino nodded in to rob the Swatcats of an unlikely point.

A brave but uninspiring display. At last the coach started with 5 at the back thus preventing runs down the flanks - a couple of games too late in my opinion. The defence did look more composed against a strong Ratchaburi attack but apart from a 15-minute second half spell, nothing was produced up front.

I am not seeing too many signs that a successful season is in front of us but I suspect we will get a better idea after a couple of home games. At least the flow of goals against has been stemmed, but why I as a mere fan could see the solution two games before the coach frightens me a little!!

Match Day 4 Stats