Recap

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts 2-2 Waikato Unicol
WaiBOP Premiership

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts recovered from two goal half time deficit on Saturday to snatch a point from a 2-2 draw against Waikato Unicol, one of the WaiBOP Premiership’s 2016 title favourites.

In truth, the Swifts could well have taken all three points after creating a host of second half opportunities. But a draw was enough to keep their unbeaten start to the season going and spoke volumes for the powers of recovery in a side that seems a very different proposition to that of recent seasons.

Matamata’s Joe Tompsett had the game’s first opportunity but the visitors went ahead inside five minutes when they broke the Swifts off-side trap and finished emphatically past goalie, Jordan Wise.

Both sides created several half chances during the remainder of the opening period, but it was the visitors who capitalised with the game’s second goal. A good strike, on the angle and from distance, gave Unicol a two goal cushion.

The Swifts’ comeback began just after the hour mark when defender, Chris Monteith, poked the ball home from a Jamie Baxter free kick. The goal sparked  wave after wave of Matamata attacks in what became a clinic on how to press an opponent into submission, and also one in how not to finish them off. Tompsett, Brad West and Scott Parsonage had the best openings, but the elusive goal eventually came with five minutes left.

Dwayne Signal, who not long before had sent a header narrowly over the cross bar, took aim from outside the box and arrowed the ball home for a goal that owed much to placement over power. It was the least Matamata deserved from an entertaining match against a good Unicol side.

Details

Date Time League Season
April 9, 2016 2:45 pm WaiBOP Premiership 2016

Ground

Matamata Domain
7 Huia Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoalsOutcome
Matamata Swifts022Draw
Waikato Unicol202Draw

Matamata Swifts

# Player Position Goals Assists Yellow Cards Red Cards
1Jordan WiseGoalkeeper0000
2Gary DobsonDefender0000
5Michael DawsonDefender0000
6Chris MonteithDefender1000
7Brad West 3Midfielder0000
8Scott ParsonageMidfielder0000
11Sam MastersonDefender0000
12Joe TompsettDefender0000
13Lawrence Clothier 4Midfielder0000
15Will JudsonDefender0000
19Dwayne SignelDefender1000
3Shaun Richardson 7Defender0000
4Jamie Baxter 13Midfielder0000
 Total 2000

Waikato Unicol

Position Goals Assists Yellow Cards Red Cards
 0000