Matamata Swifts’ senior football teams suffered four defeats from four games in what was a bleak weekend, results wise, for the club.
While there thirteen goals in two games at the Domain over the weekend, neither Comag Matamata Swifts or Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies came out on the right side of the ledger.
Saturday’s Premiership game was a lesson in finishing as the well performed Bulk Lines Otorohanga scored early and late to run out 6-2 winners on a Domain that makes Chris Bedford’s paddocks look like Wembley.
While the recurring injury problems aren’t helping, the Swifts’ propensity to over play on a surface even Pep Guardiola’s rampant Barcelona side of a decade ago would struggle with, is equally of concern.
Matamata briefly threatened a revival after goals from Chris Walker and Pete Shannon midway through the second half, but the visitors were too sharp and too clinical at the pointy end of the field.
Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies 100% record ended on Sunday as visiting Tokoroa scored late to win 3-2, opening the Waikato Ladies Division 1 title race back up.
The visitors were strongest during the first half, scoring twice and bossing the period as they capitalised on a slow start from Matamata. But the Swifts hit back after the break.
Kerrie Cox and captain, Mary Ontiveros, scored to get Matamata back on level terms and looking likely to go on and take all three points. Unfortunately Tokoroa had other ideas, scoring in the final moments to bag all three points.
Waharoa Transport Swifts Reserves were beaten 6-1 at Claudelands Rovers. With a number of players backing up from morning college games, the reserves’ sharpness and energy levels weren’t quite there and the performance suffered.
Fez Kebab Swifts Reserves, however, did themselves huge credit, taking a blend of experience and youth to Tokoroa and pushing one of the top teams in Waikato Division 4 all the way. The team succumbed 3-2, but goals from Jamie Cox and Max Hill kept Tokoroa honest, while Paul Weymouth and Dan Ellis both covered themselves in defensive glory.