Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts maintained second spot in the Loaded WaiBOP Premiership after a 4-1 victory over Melville United on Saturday.
The visitors opened the scoring early on from the penalty spot, but Chris Walker’s goal had the Swifts level by half time when he fired the ball home after good work in the build up from Andrew Clothier.
Matamata completely took over after the break.
Jordane Lambert’s rasping finish just before the hour mark put Matamata in front. Equally as fine was the ball that played him in from captain, Scott Parsonage. Brad West’s double in the last quarter hour underlined his team’s second half dominance. The Swifts also had the luxury of missing a penalty when Jamie Baxter’s spot kick was well saved.
This was Matamata’s tenth win in fourteen games and it ensured they remained unbeaten at home in 2016. They still sit six points behind leaders, Ngongotaha.
In Saturday’s early game, Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves got home 2-1 over visiting Whakatane thanks to Reuben Wigelsworth’s fine double strike. It wasn’t the best performance from the reserves, possibly suffering from having last weekend’s match postponed. Indeed, they went a goal down early in the second half, but Wigelsworth rammed home the equaliser almost immediately. He popped up again with less than 15 minutes left to rifle home a fine winner from the edge of the box.
The Swifts A team progressed to the next round of the Waikato Plate following a penalty shoot-out win at Claudelands Rovers. Goals from Ronan Costello (2) and Jamie Cox ensured their match finished level at 3-3, before Hayri Cihan and Kyle Van Waveren’s spot kicks ensured the A team won 2-1 in the shoot-out. Keeper, Matt Aberhart, was prolific between the sticks, both during the match and in the shoot-out.
On Sunday the Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies won 2-1 in Otorohanga thanks to goals from Ana Paterson and Patrice Adamson. The match was tied up at a goal apiece at half time, but the Matamata Ladies had enough about them to squeeze out their third win of 2016.
The Swifts under-13s lost 10-0 to an extremely good Tauranga City United in their final match before the holiday break.
Junior results
13th Grade: Cambridge 0-2 Matamata Jets. Matamata Falcons 3-0 Southwell – wbd.
11th Grade: Matamata Dragons 13-1 Hillcrest (Goals: Reilly Benefield 6, Anshil Dayal 3, Dylan Brown 3, OG. Player of the Day: Anshil Dayal). Matamata Tigers 2-0 Glenview (Goals: Logan Cox-Milne, Michael Griffits. POD: Ericka Landar).
10th Grade: Hillcrest 0-6 Matamata Rebels.
9th Grade: Matamata Eagles 1-4 Cambridge (Goal: Haydn Logie. PODs: Haydn Logie, Nathan Barlow). Tauwhare 6-1 Matamata Strikers (Goal: Caley van de Veen. POD: Ryan Donderwinkel).