Swifts 2-0 Katikati

Recap

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts 2-0 Katikati
WaiBOP Premiership

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts have moved to third on the WaiBOP Premiership table after a 2-0 home victory over a rambunctious Katikati side on Saturday.

A bright first half was highlighted by two Swifts goals and the sending off of the visitors’ keeper but it was followed by a second 45 minutes where little of note took place.

Matamata took the lead inside 20 minutes when a deep Sam Masterson cross from the left was brought down by Brad West, who skipped past a couple of defenders before slotting home for his first goal of the season. The Swifts went close several more times, while keeper, Jordan Wise, was forced into one excellent full length save during the visitors’ best spell of the match.

The defining incident of the match game just before the break when big Joe Tompsett was hauled down by the visiting keeper who, as the last defender, was rightly sent from the field as he had denied a goal scoring opportunity. Jamie Baxter stepped up to slot home from the penalty spot for the second time this season.

The second half gave fans of both sides little to cheer, as the Swifts spent a large amount of time in possession, but couldn’t make it tell on an unusually bumpy Domain surface, while Katikati set their stall out well to limit any further damage.

Matamata’s coaching staff will have been pleased with the clean sheet and the mature way in which the team secured the result. New signing, Jordane Lambert, looked likely in his first start and will be better for getting 70 minutes of football under his belt.