Dateline 29th 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 80th
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 17th 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 26th 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 92nd minute Amadou was sent off after his
second innocuous challenge and following intense late pressure, Ratchaburi
snatched a winner in the 94th 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