Dateline 25^th August 2019

 FT Chang Mai 5 NRFC 1

Attendance; 451

A crucial encounter for the Swatcats as they battle to beat the drop. Chalermpong and Assumpcao returned to the team but still no Cunningham.

The match began with the visitors on the front foot with Henri missing a guilt edged chance to put them ahead in the third minute. Eliandro countered and his shot was luckily deflected wide. From the resulting corner Nittawut Sombatyotha poked home to give Chang Mai an early 8^th minute lead.

The hosts began to dominate and looked dangerous up front with the Swatcat defence seemingly having no answers. They doubled their lead in the 24^th minute when Eliandro seized upon a parried shot to fire home from 12 yards.

Akekanat shot wide in the 27^th minute in a rare foray forward but in truth, the Swatcats were being completely outplayed. Against the run of play, Amadou had a shot on target in the 33rd minute but the hosts looked likely to score every time they broke forward.

Unexpectedly, the men from Korat got back into the game when Swiss/Thai Chitchanok headed in from a corner in the 44^th minute - a goal they barely deserved.

The second half began with neither side making decisive moves but in the 55^th minute Henri went close when he ended a solo run by rounding the keeper but he was unable to convert. With growing confidence, the Swatcats flooded forward looking for an equalizer.

Controversy in the 61st minute when a Chang Mai goal from Mustava Azadzoy was ruled offside by the linesman. In a scene I have never before witnessed, the referee then overruled the linesman and much to the Swatcat player’s chagrin awarded a goal.

This seemed to knock the stuffing out of the team and to add to the Swatcat’s woes, Eliandro punished weak defending when he blasted in the fourth in the 80^th minute.

With the team now being battered and on its knees, Chang Rai scored a fifth in the dying seconds of the match thus completing a total humiliation by the team who were bottom of the table at the start of the match.

This team is rudderless and without a leader. A typical Swatcat performance with their areas of weakness again exposed. No real patterns of play, no cohesion in midfield, little up front. This team, who should be in the top six, is now among the favourites for relegation - what a bloody shambles!!

Too late now for any coaching changes, we just have to hope that other team’s results go the right way, what a disappointing end to the season.

Match Day 25 Stats