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

 

Dateline 22^nd September 2019

 FT NRFC 4 Samut Prakan City 1

Attendance; 4277

A vital match this weekend with the Swatcats hovering perilously above the bottom three.

On a heavy pitch, the Swatcats opened brightly with the visitors on the back foot. There then began a period of total Swatcat domination, rewarded in the 11^th minute when Henri broke forward from deep within his own half only to be upended in the box by former Swatcat keeper Kampon. The keeper atoned for his error by saving a weak spot kick from Henri.

With Amadou fizzing in midfield, his slide rule though ball in the 17^th minute put Assumpcao clear but his shot was brilliantly tipped over by Kampon.

In the 22^nd minute a dizzy run inside the box from Amadou ended when he thumped a shot against the bar, the ball rebounded to Assumpcao whose rocket shot was superbly saved by hero Kampon.

In a late and rare foray forward by the visitors, keeper Cunningham was forced to push a low drive wide and as the first half drew to a close, Samut Prakan could have considered themselves lucky not to be to be or three down.

 Inevitably, one wondered would the home team rue the many opportunities missed during the first 45 minutes, and as the second period progressed, with glorious inevitability and despite continued pressure from the hosts, Samut Prakan snatched a one goal lead when Ibson Melo slotted home smartly in the 63^rd minute. The lead was short lived as minutes later, Akekanat rose to head in from a corner.

The Swatcats now stormed forward searching for a much needed 3-point haul and with an Akekanat drive drifting just wide and the visitor’s goal under almost constant siege, a second goal looked likely.

There then followed an amazing blitzkrieg that yielded three goals in five minutes. In the 83^rd minute Kampon saved well from an Assumpcao freekick and seconds later Assumpcao shot in from 18 yards to give the Swatcats the lead. The lead was doubled in the 86^th minute when Amadou ended a solo run with a low shot into the corner of the net. Amazingly the Swatcats went four up when Henri stooped to head in an Amadou cross.

Phew, a breathless performance at the right time for the Swatcats and a debut victory for newly appointed coach Chalermwoot Sa-ngapol. This victory puts them 4 points above the relegation zone. There is still much hard work to avoid the drop but a terrific performance to put Samut Prakan to the sword. With the visitors seemingly not up for the fight, this score could have easily been doubled by the marauding men from Korat.

The question now is can this form be replicated in the remaining four games to enable Tier 1 survival - rather bizarrely, the Swatcats are only 4 points below 7th place, coach Joksic’s original target for the season - what am I thinking, survival will suit me just fine!!

Match Day 27 Stats

Dateline 14^th September

 Port FC V NRFC

A massive storm welcomed the players onto the pitch in this match, so vital for different reasons, to both teams. Assumpcao was on the bench, with Chitchanok starting.

In near apocalyptic conditions, the match kicked off but the players were taken off after 3 minutes due to the unplayable pitch.

The game was abandoned without further play.

Match Day 26 Stats

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

Dateline 18^th August 2019

 FT Chonburi Sharks 2 NRFC 1

Attendance; 5507

The Sharks began brightly with debutant keeper Chainarong saving smartly after 30 seconds. Minutes later Kroekrit shot agonizingly inches wide with an angled drive. At the other end, Henri got onto the end of an Amadou lob but was thwarted by the home keeper.

With Chonburi looking more refined and the visitors resorting to the Neanderthal tactic of lumping the ball forward for Henri to chase, the contrast in tactics was embarrassing at times.

In the 12^th minute Caion broke forward and forced the visitor’s keeper into a fine save. The Sharks continued to press and in the 25^th minute a viciously deflected shot from Sarahat Sontisawat eluded the keeper and crept into the net to put the Sharks one up.

Minutes later and rather unexpectedly, the Swatcats equalized when Amadou skillfully slid the ball into the net from 8 yards and as the first half whistle blew, the visitors could consider themselves lucky to be on level terms.

After a brief period of decent attacking play as the second half commenced, the visitors faded as the 

home attack, with Caion prominent, began to tear the Swatcat defence apart with thrusts from both flanks. The combative Caion had two headed chances before the inevitable happened in the 64^th minute when Caion struck home after the Swatcat defence failed to clear.

With the Swatcats attack bereft of ideas, this strike looked like the winner and as the match stuttered to a conclusion, the visitors limped to yet another disappointing loss.

In what has become common recently, a toothless, mediocre performance with the team resorting to lumping the ball forward for our inept forwards to chase. There was no pattern, no crisp passing movements and a distinct lack of quality on display.

My early season optimism has quickly evaporated as it has transpired that coach Joksic is presiding over a very average team.

The team is now deep in relegation territory and quite honestly with Port, Buriram and Samut Prakan to come, I cannot see where our next points are going to come from. The team needs a fresh approach but unfortunately, I fear that even a big change within the coaching staff will save us from the dreaded drop.

Match Day 24 Stats

Dateline 11^th August 2019

 FT NRFC 1 Suphanburi 1 

Attendance; 4780

Premier League strugglers Suphanburi were the guests this weekend. In what I expect to be Milos Joksic’s last game at the club if the men from Korat do not gain three points, this really is a “must win” fixture for the hosts.

After a quiet start where neither side managed to seize the initiative, the hosts went ahead when Amadou pounced on a knock down from a free kick in the 15^th minute. The Ivorian continued to threaten with a series of jinxing runs as the men from Korat continued to press.

Suphan had some useful possession but were unable to create any clear-cut chances but in the 40^th minute, Meechok prodded in to equalize.

 As a rather staid and uneventful half with few incidents of note drew to a close, the teams went in at half time all square.

The second half kicked off with the Swatcats on the offensive but the visitors had the first chance with a clever flick that keeper Cunningham did well to grab. The Swatcats countered with Henri just failing to connect with an Amadou cross.

With the hosts regularly losing possession in midfield, Suphan began to grow into the game and were looking more dangerous up front. At the other end and somewhat against the run of play Amadou swiveled and hit a low shot inches wide. Minutes later Henri shot tamely over the bar.

With confidence growing, a superb flowing movement involving Amadou and Henri ended with a Weerawat shot going just wide as the Swatcats had three chances in as many minutes.

The Swatcats continued to dominate with a clear penalty for handball turned down but In a late scare Cunningham saved following a quick counter from Cleiton.

In a final flourish, with the last kick of the game, the Suphan keeper saved well from a 22-yard free kick as the hosts launched a last, panic ridden attempt to win the game.

A mediocre effort tonight and a chance lost to pull clear of the relegation zone. The team never looked like winning and indeed, Suphanburi looked the more organized and crisper side tonight.

Rudderless and bereft of ideas up front. Sadly, the question has to be asked, are we heading for Tier 2!!

Match Day 23 Stats

Dateline 3^rd August 2019

 FT Muang Thong United 2 NRFC 0

Attendance; 9639

As the match began, Muang Thong started to put visitors under early pressure, with Cunningham forced to save with his feet early on, then Chappuis shot inches wide with a low drive.

The half progressed and as the visitor’s defence settled, they continued to hold their own against a talented home side. With 30 minutes gone, the Kirin’s were struggling to make the most of their early pressure and any Korat forward play was rare and relatively harmless.

 Assumpcao fluffed a chance when he was put clear in the 38^th minute but his contact with the ball was weak and the keeper saved. The Kirin’s countered and Heberty brilliantly stroked a free kick into the net to give the home side the lead. In further, late drama, a curling chip shot from Derley came close to doubling the lead.

In truth, this was an uninspiring half, finishing with the Kirin’s deservedly one up.

The second half started with the Swatcats probing forward but in a game becoming a battle of few chances, a rare one came in the 60^th minute when an Amadou cross was deflected onto the bar then Henri headed the rebound over from one yard out.

Assumpcao then held off two defenders to force the home keeper into action then Cunningham reciprocated when he brought off a world class save to keep the marauding Kirins at bay.

With Muang Thong still not creating much and the Swatcat threat minimal, the game was heading for a one goal victory but a snap shot from Henry almost gained the visitors a point when it rippled the side netting.

With time running out, a surprise second for the Kirins when Chalermpong was robbed of the ball just outside the box and Heberty slotted into the net.

Well, an uninspiring encounter with not much creative soccer in view. The Swatcats? Stout defence at times, little up front, outperformed by a superior side, that’s about the sum of it.

Match Day 22 Stats