Matamata Swifts’ senior men’s teams racked up a full house of results on Saturday following a win, a draw and a defeat. Comag Matamata Swifts continued their lean recent run after two late goals led to their demise at West Hamilton, while Waharoa Transport Swifts Reserves secured an excellent home win and Fez Kebab Swifts 3rds picked up their second point of the season.
Injuries to key players are playing havoc with the Swifts’ Premiership campaign and it was more of the same for their game at West Hamilton on Saturday. Despite that, the Swifts took an early lead through converted striker, Reagen Powell, who notched his first goal for the club. Unfortunately, the hosts got back on level terms soon after then the match ebbed and flowed in challenging conditions.
The Swifts were caught out late chasing what would have been a confidence boosting win. West Hamilton took the lead inside the final ten minutes then iced their victory cake well into injury time with a third, giving them a 3-1 win and all three points.
It was a far more positive story for Waharoa Transport Swifts Reserves as they wrapped up their second win of the season. After a couple of ropey performances and less than satisfactory results, they kept a clean sheet in defeating fellow Waikato Division 1 mid-table side, Cambridge, 1-0.
One of the squad’s many youngsters, Crisrick Lander, scored the team’s solitary goal, while at the other end of the field the defence held strong to secure an impressive clean sheet.
With such a young squad, gaining consistency of performance is always the biggest challenge for the coaching staff. But when this team gets it right they can compete with anyone in Division 1.
Fez Kebab Swifts 3rds notched their second point of the season after a 2-2 home draw against Claudelands Rovers. Serial goal scorer, Jamie Cox, scored Matamata’s first, but the team trailed 2-1 at the break against stern opponents. Some Paul Weymouth magic – a mazy run and an equally majestic finish – got the 3rds back into a game they were unlucky not to win.
Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies began an extended mid-season break as they had a bye on Sunday and will also miss out on a game this coming weekend as local women’s football takes a break for Queen’s Birthday weekend.
The Good Merchant Players of the Day were Blair Griffiths (Comag Matamata Swifts), Mike Hills (Waharoa Transport Swifts Reserves) and Rendong Xu (Fez Kebab Swifts 3rds).