Eka 3 RBAC 1 - report

Any football fan knows that great feeling that comes with the first home game of the season. The sunshine, the meeting of old friends and the feeling that Saturday afternoons have a purpose once more.

Today it’s the clash of nursery sides as Nonthaburi (MTU’s Nursery side) take on RBAC BEC TERO (Obviously BEC Tero’s nursery club). I wasn’t expecting too much as despite the massive clearout of players this season, we had started with the same form as 2012, i.e. losing and not scoring.

Unfortunately the teamlist I previously posted on my blog looks to have been superseded so I will have to start identifying players again. What I do know is that we have four African players including Cedric, who was with us late into last season and three others I suspect are all loaned from the Muangthong youth team. The foreign player I'm unaware of is simply shirt-named 'Toni'.

The first half was very reminiscent of Eka sides of old, decent football going forward with very little threat on goal.At half time it was 0-0.

Karamoko Alassane - quality

The second half was very different. MTU broke a very long scoring drought with a close finish from African player number 26, Toni. RBAC equalled within a minute but we restored the lead with great link up play between Toni and another African player, number 10,Karamoko Alassane. I am sure this guy is a loanee as he showed great skill and control but his body language suggested he might not be overjoyed playing at this level. In any case his finish and his triple somersault to celebrate looked great.

By now the three Africans were running the show and a superb volley from Toni made it 3-1 and though RBAC pulled one back to make it 3-2, Eka’s African trio were by now just having great fun going forward. Toni went down under a soft challenge to get an RBAC player his second yellow - poor lad started walking before the ref even reached into his pocket - and Glassinie was replaced by another African player, Traore to see the game out. 3-1, I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw us win at home or score three goals in one game.

Overall this was a great second half performance and the list of goalscorers - all MTU loanees I suspect - should tell the story of what makes us different this season. If we can keep up this standard of attacking performance and tighten up at the back, we can make a top half finish. But what’s more important than hat is that we are still here, still have a team to cheer and still get to enjoy an afternoon at the football. Whoever made that possible, I thank you.

Photo credits: Nitinont Image & GraphicStudio's Page