Dateline 28^th April

 FT NRFC 4 Chonburi Sharks 0 

Attendance; 12667

Chonburi Sharks, fresh from there amazing 7-5 victory last weekend, were the visitors this weekend.

The Sharks started confidently and could have gone ahead in the third minute when a low drive drifted wide. The Swatcats then slowly built momentum and after a rather sterile opening half hour, during which neither side created clear cut chances, Henry opened the scoring. A superb backheel flick found the Ivorian who stroked the ball confidently into the net.

The Swatcats consolidated their lead with a well-crafted goal in the 40^th minute. Henri stepped

 over the ball from an Amadou pass to leave Assumpcao clear on the edge of the box and he thumped home to put the Swatcats two up.

Lukian had a great chance to pull one back when he shot narrowly wide in the 43^rd minute and as the first half drew to a close, without doing anything special, the hosts found themselves two nil up at half time!!

The second half commenced with the Swatcat defence sitting deep - a team trait that keeps resurfacing. The Sharks countered and began to throw men forward and one wondered if the hosts could exploit gaps inevitably left at the back.

The answer came in the 65^th minute when Assumpcao ended a fine solo run with a low drive that was saved by the ex-Swatcat keeper Kampon. Minutes later the Brazilian stroked home to put the hosts three up.

In late drama Assumpcao raced onto a through ball from Amadou. His run was ended by a lunging tackle inside the box from Noppanon and a penalty was awarded. The unfortunate defender was red carded (for a second yellow I think) and Assumpcao converted the spot kick to complete his hat trick.

A decent performance and a great victory tonight. Henry, Amadou and Assumpcao prove yet again what a handful they can be and the Sharks defence just could not cope. A word here for unsung hero Kidsada Hamvipat. He tackled again and again to add some much needed bite in midfield - he’s a real warrior.

A great hat trick from Assumpcao but the Sharks fans really need to know why the Brazilian was left completely unmarked in the box for his first two goals - conceding 9 goals in two matches is worrying even cataclysmic for Chonburi and it could lead to potential disaster!!

Onwards and upwards, Champions Buriram next. This match should be used as a gauge as to how far we have progressed and could answer the question, “Can we hack it against the best?”.

Match Day 9 Stats

Dateline 21st April 2019

 FT Suphanburi 3 NRFC 1

Attendance; 3793

The Swatcats took on struggling Suphanburi this weekend.

In sauna like temperatures, both sides began in a somewhat ponderous fashion, hoping perhaps to conserve energy for the later stages of the game.

The deadlock was broken in the 17^th minute when Henry latched onto a long clearance from Cunningham and stroked the ball tidily under the keeper’s body. Suphan then came close to an equalizer with a Reis snap shot in the 21^st minute.

As the half progressed, Suphan got into their stride and in the 38^th minute Dos Santos managed to shoot the ball wide from 5 yards with an open goal beckoning - a rare opening for the hosts. A minute later Cunningham brought off an amazing save to tip a shot onto the bar.

With Suphan recovering after a shaky start, they were probably unlucky to be one down at half time.

The hosts began the second half brightly and went close with a clever flick in the 56^th minute. They began to dominate possession and they equalized in the 66^th minute with a powerful header from Hartmann.

Suphanburi deservedly went ahead with a scrappy tap in from Cleiton Silva in the 76^th minute as the Swatcats stumbled. Jakkit went close with a clever lob but this apart, the Swatcats had produced absolutely nothing in the second half.

In a late flurry Pralong went inches wide with a drive but in truth an equalizer would have been a cruel blow for Suphanburi.

 In a final flourish, Reis smashed in a third goal in the 96^th minute to rub salt into the faltering Swatcats’ wounds.

 Not a particularly inspiring performance tonight. After an impressive opening, they sat back and let the hosts get a foothold in the game. A deserved victory for Suphanburi but I expected more from the Swatcats tonight. Possibly their worst performance of the season!!

Match Day 8 Stats

Dateline 7^th April

 FT NRFC 3 Muang Thong United 1

Attendance; 18614

Struggling giants Muang Thong were tonight’s visitors.

Amadou - already a near constant threat, nearly opened the scoring in the 7^th minute with a low drive. The keeper parried and Henri almost tapped in the loose ball. The visitors countered and should have opened the score two minutes later, but their shot went wide. They continued to press and Heberty went close in the 25^th minute.

In the 33^rd minute, Henri swiveled and shot from the edge of the area. The keeper could only parry and Assumpcao was on hand to tap in to give the hosts the lead. Minutes later, Thai-Swiss newcomer Chitchanok sent Henri on his way with a superb through ball, he then continued his run and was found by a pin point pass into the box by the flying Henri. He blasted the ball into the roof of the net to put the Swatcats two up - a fine goal.

On the stroke of half time, Cunningham smothered a shot after a long through ball to ensure that the hosts ended the half two up.

The second half began, and Aung Thu drove just wide in the 57^th minute and with Muang Thong pressing forward, the marauding Swatcat forwards were now finding acres of space. With Henri and Assumpcao constantly menacing, it was no real surprise when Henri stroked in the third goal with a 20-yard drive in the 67^th minute.

Adisorn was shown a second yellow in the 86^th minute and was dismissed and in a late flurry, the visitors scored a consolation goal when Adisak stroked home in the 88^th minute.

Another fine performance from the Swatcats - this team is going places. Sorry to repeat myself but Amadou and Henri aided by Assumpcao could become the most potent strike force in the Premier League.

Muang Thong are struggling and were poor, but the home team completely dominated play and really should have scored more.

Our 4^th successive 10k plus crowd was amazing and the Stadium was really buzzing with anticipation - I see a bright season ahead - if only we had put away our chances at Prachuap and beaten lowly Trat!!

Match Day 7 Stats

Dateline 3^rd April 2019

 FT Prachuap 1 NRFC 0

Attendance; 3210

Second versus third in this early season top of the table clash with striker Henri back in the team after injury.

In a dramatic start, Henri missed a great chance to put the visitors one up after a great run and cross from Amadou. The Ivorian’s header slid just wide as the keeper foundered. Seconds later Amadou had a lob cleared off the line with the keeper well beaten. An electric start from the Swatcats but no goal to show for their endeavours.

The hosts countered and went close with a header in the 13^th minute, the Swatcats then broke forward and an Assumpcao through ball put Henri clear but he shot wide - what a great start to the match with chances at either end.

With the visitors continuing to press forward, Assumpcao shot into the side netting from close range after an Amadou scamper - this 30 minute period of play has been the best I have ever witnessed from a Swatcat side - but still no goals!!

On the stroke of half time Assumpcao curled a fine drive inches wide as the chances continued to flow from the visitors - one wondered if these missed opportunities might cost us the match later.

With Amadou on fire and an excellent half of attacking football behind them, the Swatcats ended the half well on top but ominously without a lead.

The Swatcats lost their impetus at the start of the second half and Prachuap went close in the 60th minute but keeper Cunningham managed to claw the headed effort away. Then a long-range effort shaved the crossbar with Cunningham beaten.

Matheus Alves blasted in on 69 minutes to give Prachuap an undeserved lead and apart from an Ekkanat drive in the 79^th minute, the visitors produced little in the second half.

A superb first half performance but unfortunately, the numerous chances produced were not taken. In the second half the team could not sustain the pressure and Prachuap were able to stay in the game and indeed went on to win it.

The side played with confidence and thoroughly outplayed their opponents with Amadou and Henri continuing to look extremely dangerous. How did we lose this one - in a nutshell, great performance, disappointing result.

Match Day 6 Stats