The three Matamata Swifts senior teams in action over the weekend all suffered defeats, of varying degrees, making it a couple of days to both forget and move on from quickly.
Comag Matamata Swifts suffered their largest defeat of the season, going down 5-1 at Loaded WaiBOP Premiership title challengers, Papamoa.
The match began brightly for the Swifts, however, as they not only held Papamoa at bay but proved more than a match for their heavily favoured opponents. Unfortunately a nightmare spell in the nine minutes leading up to half time sealed the game for Papamoa as they rattled home three goals to undo all Matamata’s earlier good work.
After some half time self-assessment, Matamata came out strongly and pulled a 52nd minute goal back through Brayden Lissington to provide some hope. But that was swiftly snuffed out as Papamoa restored their three goal lead before the hour mark. A late strike from the hosts completed a tough afternoon for the Swifts and one they will need to respond positively to in their next match, which is at home against Melville United this coming Saturday.
Waharoa Transport Matamata reserves’ 2-1 loss at Cambridge was a result that, in many ways, proved to be a microcosm of the team’s season. Competitive for long periods, the team failed to take enough advantage of their good period to turn their promise into a result. Lawrence Clothier’s goal levelled the scores after Cambridge had taken the lead after a goalless first half. But it wasn’t quite enough as Cambridge found a winner to secure a result that saw them jump ahead of the reserves on the WaiBOP Championship table.
On Sunday the Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies ran headlong into Waikato Ladies’ Division A’s leading side, West Hamilton United, at a soaked Weka Street ground in Hamilton. The team battled well and created chances but ended up succumbing 5-0 to opponents that appear to be comfortably walking away with the division A title.
Camel Kebab Matamata Swifts 3rd team’s match was called off when their opponents defaulted.