Swifts 0-1 Papamoa

Recap

Comag Matamata Swifts slipped to their first defeat of the season on Saturday, 1-0 at home against Papamoa FC.

The Swifts have opened the season with a run of games against the WaiBOP Premiership’s leading sides, with four of their first five matches against the current top four. Matamata sit in fifth. Papamoa had lost their unbeaten record last Saturday and the manner of their performance showed how keen they were to get back on track.

In a high tempo, aggressive match, both teams had their moments but virtually cancelled each other. The game’s solitary goal came midway through the first half when the Swifts got caught on the break. The first effort was blocked but the rebound fell kindly and was tucked away.

Clear cut openings were few and far between, with both teams being forced to shoot from distance. Matamata did have probably the best of the half-chances, with Brayden Lissington going close in the first half and Radge Avergonzado narrowly failing to connect in the second.

In the end, the Swifts had to suffer the frustration of a narrow defeat in a match neither side deserved to lose.