Dateline 29^th June 2019

 FT NRFC 0 PTT Rayong 1

Attendance; 10371

The Swatcats started with new signing Narupon in midfield and Hartmann on the bench.

The hosts began breathlessly, roaring forward straight from the whistle and within minutes, Amadou headed an Assumpcao freekick against the upright. Minutes later Assumpcao had a drive blocked after fine work from Henri - this was surely going to be a rout.

In the 8^th minute the Rayong keeper saved well from a Naruphol cross shot and as the Swatcats continued to press, first Henri then Naruphol went close.

With the PTT goal now under constant siege, Henri broke clear but his low drive was saved, I am beginning to think that this is not going to be our day!!

The siege continued with Henri again thwarted when his shot from 8 yards was well saved.

In the 41^st minute, Rayong entered the Swatcat half with any real intent for the first time and as the first half ended, was I in a dream? Was the score really 0-0.

The second half began with, guess what, more Swatcat pressure. Three minutes in, Assumpcao’s brilliant swerving drive was equally brilliantly saved by the PTT keeper.

Shock, horror PTT had the temerity to enter the Swatcat half again in the 52^nd minute - but to no avail as the men from Korat continued their assault. Amadou hit an excellent snap shot inches wide and in the 59^th minute Assumpcao struck the upright with a sumptuous swerving shot leaving the keeper floundering. The ball then bounced back to Henri whose shot hit the base of the upright and was ultimately cleared.

In now what must be becoming boring reading, Henri shot inches over from close range.

With desperation and frustration building and men flooding forward, the impossible happened. Rayong had their first shot on target in the 68^th minute - and it went in. A combination of throwing too many men forward and inept defending presented the visitors with a goal as Pornpreecha Jarrunai slotted home from 16 yards.

With the stuffing knocked out of the team they pushed on but truth be told, I think that they realized it was not going to be their night. Hartmann was brought on for his debut and as the hosts battled on, Amadou shot over from 6 yards with only the keeper to beat and Assumpcao fired wide from 20 yards.

In a final flourish, Hartmann was put clear inside the box by a clever through ball from Henri but he shot wide from 7 yards.

  A fair result would have been Swatcats 8 PTT 1, but life is not fair is it!!

I have rarely seen such a one-sided football match, with the Swatcats having AT LEAST 90 % of play, only a combination of wretched luck and poor finishing prevented a rout by the hosts. A fine attacking performance but a disappointing result - it’s a funny old game!!

No need to panic, this was certainly a “one off” - at least we are creating chances, results will come.

Match Day 16 Stats

Dateline 22^nd June 2019

 FT Sukhothai 1 NRFC 0

Attendance; 3182

In early exchanges, both sides passed the ball around smartly with the Firebats having slightly the better of play. As the 20 minute mark approached, neither side had managed a shot on target.

In the 26^th minute Henri broke clear after an Assumpcao through ball, but his close-range effort was blocked. This one incident of excitement was the sole highlight as a largely unremarkable half drew to a close.

The second half began and my thought was that only a touch of brilliance from perhaps Amadou or Baggio could break the deadlock in what was becoming a largely sterile performance from both sides.

As in the first half both teams found it difficult to create chances but with the visitors trying to be more assertive, they looked more likely to score the opener.

 Kongnateechai Boonma had a great chance to put the home side in front in the 68^th minute but he shot over. The Swatcats countered and Kunath put in a swerving drive.

Baggio broke the deadlock in the 81^st minute with a fine swerving drive, He nearly doubled the lead in the 86^th minute, but his low drive was saved by keeper Cunningham.

My, my that was tough viewing, what a dreadful spectacle. A mediocre performance from the Swatcats who were beaten by a touch of class from Baggio. Absolutely nothing up front from the visitors who deserved nothing from this match.

 A most disappointing end of Leg 1 for the Swatcats but still in 7^th place in the league. This is probably where we will be come season’s end and I guess will represent progress for Milos Joksic’s squad.

Match Day 15 Stats

Dateline 15^th June 2019

 FT NRFC 2 Chainat Hornbills 1

Attendance; 5824 (looked to be around 10k)

Hornbills from Chainat were tonight’s guests.

The hosts were quickly on the front foot looking for early rewards but stout Hornbill defending prevented an early breakthrough. In what was rapidly becoming one-way traffic, frustratingly, the final ball in from the hosts was often disappointing. At the other end, against the run of play, Chainat forced Cunningham into a fine save from a freekick just outside the box.

The Swatcats finally broke the deadlock on 38 minutes when Assumpcao fired in after good work on the flank from Henri.

In late first half scares, Santos managed to get in behind the defence but fluffed the chance of an equalizer from 3 yards out, he again went close when he shot inches wide seconds before the half time whistle.

A frustrating half came to an end with a dominant display from the Swatcats yielding only a solitary goal.

In the 51^st minute, following a foul on Henri, Assumpcao stroked a superb free kick past the opposition keeper to put the Swatcats two up, minutes later he spurned his chance of a hat trick when he shot tamely at the keeper following a mazy run from Amadou.

Assumpcao was again in the frame for a hattrick when an Henri through ball put him clear with only the keeper to beat. His carefully flighted shot was superbly (and acrobatically) saved by the Chainat number one.

As the game petered out, Chainat scored a late consolation goal when Chatri Rattanawong slid in from 10 yards in the 91^st minute.

Another disciplined and determined attacking display tonight and a deserved 3 points. I know I sound like a stuck record but our attacking trio really are on fire. Chainat were disappointing but these are the sort of games that we would have lost in past seasons. We are just one creative midfielder away from being a top 4 team - Ariel Rodriques from PTT Rayong would fit the bill, let’s go get him!!

Footnote: T May T played his 100^th game for the Swatcats tonight.

Match Day 14 Stats

Dateline 29^th May 2019

 FT Samut Prakan City 2 NRFC 0 

Attendance; 1530

The Swatcats took on high fliers Samut Prakan in this mid-week fixture. The visitors started without skipper Chalermpong.

The hosts opened brightly but in early action from the visitors, Henri, struck the upright with an angled drive after a splendid solo run down the flank.

With both sides willing to throw men forward and plenty of space in midfield, an early goal looked likely. On 20 minutes Ibson Melo nearly opened the scoring when his low drive shaved the post. The men from Korat countered with a period of pressure that culminated in Amadou being foiled by the home keeper after a mazy run.

Samut Prakan probed with Ibson Melo a constant threat, as they continued to play some great approach play. Unfortunately for them their final finishing was poor.

They finally opened the scoring in the 42nd minute when a shot cannoned off the upright into the path of Chayawat Srinawong who tapped into an empty net. The visitors replied with a looping cross that outfoxed the keeper and rebounded off the bar.  

An entertaining first half came to an end, with both sides trying to play positive football and with the Swatcats slightly unlucky to be one down.

The second half began with neither side able to create clear cut chances. It took until the 57^th minute for a shot on target as keeper Cunningham smothered a low drive. This was becoming a “ping pong” battle with both sides breaking forward with very little end product.

The visitors began to exert pressure, looking for the equalizer and with inevitable gaps being left at the back, Samut Prakan sealed the points when Terraphol broke forward and stroked the ball into the net in the 73^rd minute.

In the 93^rd minute Ibson Melo almost made it three as he broke forward but his shot was comfortably saved by Cunningham.

A fairly straightforward victory for Samut Prakan tonight. The Swatcats looked dangerous going forward and defended stoutly but a talented Samut Prakan side deservedly took the victory and a valuable three points.

Match Day 13 Stats

Dateline 25^th May 2019

 FT NRFC 1 Port FC 1

Attendance; 22555

League leaders Port were the guests tonight.

The Swatcats opened positively with Amadou buzzing around, seemingly involved in every move. Despite this Port created the first chance when Cunningham was forced to push an angled shot past the post in the 9^th minute. The hosts countered and Henri was close to converting a “dinked” cross from Assumpcao. The Brazilian then went close as he failed, under pressure, to connect with an intelligent Henri cross.

With the hosts continuing to press forward, Henri went close with a flick and with Port offering little up front, things were looking good for the men from Korat. In the 37^th minute in the first controversial decision of the match, the Swatcats were denied a stonewall penalty when the ball struck Dolah’s arm inside the box - more controversy was to follow!!!

With a goalless half beckoning, Assumpcao volleyed from 20 yards. His shot took a deflection and struck the upright with the visitor’s keeper flailing. Not to be outdone Port went forward and a rasping shot flew literally inches over the bar.

With thunder rumbling and Amadou continuing to torment the Port defence, the teams went off at half time with neither side able to break the deadlock.

Under darkening skies, the second half kicked off. There then followed, even by Thai standards, a maelstrom the likes of which I have never seen. With chaos reigning, the referee took the players off the pitch in the 50^th minute.

After sterling work from the ground’s men and ball boys, the match recommenced in heavy conditions. With pretty football an absolute no-no the Swatcats gained the majority of possession but were shocked when a free kick from Pakorn was wickedly deflected past keeper Cunningham to give Port the lead.

Port’s Adisorn was sent off for a second yellow offense in the 78^th minute and then ten men Port had a guilt edged chance to seal victory with a fine breakaway run by Arthit but his final shot was poor and was smothered by Cunningham.

 The Swatcats roared forward and they were rewarded when Naruphol was brought down inside the box - controversy again as replays suggested that the challenge might have been outside the box. Henri hammered in the spot kick to equalize in the 92nd minute.

Another fine performance, cementing the hypothesis that we can mix it with the best. Port were not at their best and certainly they will not be propelled to the title with performances like this tonight,

This season’s side is chalk and cheese as compared to last season’s squad. A stout defence - although not quite as tight as last year and an attacking force which gives plenty of options up front. Amadou and Henri have both been outstanding and using Asssumpcao as a link from midfield has been a tactical masterstroke.

Keep it up lads, we are all proud of you!!

Match Day 12 Stats

Dateline 19^th May

 FT NRFC 4 Chiang Mai 2

Attendance; 10365

Struggling Chiang Mai were the opponents tonight.

In a stunning start to the match, 30 seconds in, a cross from Assumpcao was deflected inches wide of the upright by a Chiang Rai defender. Chiang Mai quickly settled and in fact they played some decent passing football belying their lowly position in the table.

With Amadou an almost constant threat, Kunath latched onto one of his crosses and headed into Assumpcao’s path whose low drive from 12 yards was blocked on the line by a defender.

The hosts continued to probe but with the visitors playing arguably the better football - indeed spurning a great chance to go ahead on the break in the 39^th minute, an entertaining match drew to a goalless first half conclusion.

The Swatcats opened the second half brightly with Assumpcao’s attempted flick going close. Minutes later he atoned for that miss when he pounced on an exquisitely timed Amadou through ball and stroked the ball calmly into the net to give the hosts the lead.

Minutes later Akekanat went close with a towering header as the hosts began to dominate. Later in a carbon copy move Akekanat again rose like a salmon out of an evening stream but this time made the net bulge to put the Swatcats deservedly two up.

There then followed a dramatic final 15 minutes during which 4 goals were scored. Chiang Mai pulled one back in the 76^th minute when Mustafa Azido outpaced Akekanat to slide home then Henri struck from outside the box to regain the two-goal lead.

 The brave Lanna Tigers again struck back when they were awarded a disputed penalty for handball in the 86^th minute.  Gionata converted the kick.

The game was finally put to bed when Amadou scored a sensational forth as he cut into the box and larruped the ball into the net.

Three points and another four-goal haul in this exciting encounter. Things are looking good for the Swatcats at the moment and given the present momentum, I expect the team to hover around the top six mark for the rest of the season.

The signings of Amadou and Henry were a masterstroke and as their partnership with Assumpcao develops, I see only productive times ahead.

A word here for Chiang Mai, they fought bravely with some skillful football - I hope they stay up.

Match Day 11 Stats