Dateline 27^th September 2019

 Port FC 3 NRFC 0

Attendance; 3140

This re-arranged game is of vital importance to both teams with Port chasing the title and the visitors striving to avoid relegation.

The Swatcats started without Assumpcao and rather bizarrely, the match recommenced from the third minute, with a corner from Port!!

A snap shot from Josimar almost caught out keeper Cunningham in the 5^th minute as Port opened brightly but following some decent pressing play in midfield, Chitchanok forced the home keeper into a superb save with an accurate header from 12 yards.

Port went ahead in the 22^nd minute with a fine header from Josimar that looped over keeper Cunningham into the net. He doubled the lead in the 28^th minute with a low drive following a superb solo run from his own half.

With the Swatcat defence now under constant pressure Cunningham was again forced into a terrific save on 32 minutes but completely against the run of play, a defensive error put Henri in the clear but he slipped and failed to make contact.

With the visitors throwing men forward in a rather cavalier fashion, one thought that more goals would be forthcoming from Port but a brief period of pressure from the visitors culminated in an Henri header that drifted just wide.

In the 44^th minute Josimar broke clear again but his weak shot was smothered by Cunningham and as the half concluded, the Swatcats seemingly had a mountain to climb to gain something from the game.

 The second half commenced with Henri thumping a header against the bar but he was penalized for a push, Port countered immediately and Cunningham managed to somehow punch out a long-range shot. 

Chitchanok had a long-range effort tipped past the post by the home keeper but Port were looking in charge as the match passed the hour mark. In the 73^rd minute, Henri was hauled to the ground inside the box and a penalty was awarded. A weak spot kick from Henri himself was comfortably saved by the home keeper.

Kitsada was sent off in the 80^th minute for a second yellow and a minute later Port added a third goal when Suarez smashed in from 12 yards.

Henri struck the post in the 91^st minute and Amadou was inches wide seconds later in a last gasp effort to get the visitors on the scoreboard but as the game drew to a close, the visitors were well beaten by a superior side

The Swatcats were certainly up for the fight tonight, they fought well but were outclassed by an in-form Port. The defence looked fragile and was vulnerable to Port’s rapid counter attacks and while a couple of chances were created there was no real concerted attacking effort.

Well done to Port, a deserved victory. The Swatcats must now press on with important games to come.

Match Day 27 Stats