Huntly Thistle 2-3 Swifts

Recap

Comag Matamata Swifts returned from Huntly Thistle on the right side of the score line after Stephan Turnbull’s 90th minute goal secured an edgy, but thoroughly deserved 3-2 Soccer Shop WaiBOP Premiership victory on Saturday. Turnbull had quite the day, scoring twice for Waharoa Transport Swifts Reserves at Ngaruawahia earlier in the day, before coming off the bench to be the Swifts’ match winner.

After struggling in recent games, the Swifts began brightly at Huntly. Anton Ganas’ goal inside the first ten minutes was reward for a period in which Matamata carved out a host of chances.

Huntly have had an excellent time of it in their return to the Premiership and underlined their resilience when they equalised right on half time then went ahead midway through the second half.

Matamata hit back fifteen minutes from the end when substitute, Finn Challis, pounced to draw them level, then Turnbull headed home as the match entered added time to secure an important three points as the season nears the top-six, bottom-six split.

With injuries biting, several late changes to the line-up, and having not tasted victory since early July, a win of any sort was welcome as it kept the Swifts just inside the top six.