Swifts 3-1 Otumoetai

Recap

Comag Matamata Swifts are flying the club’s flag in The Soccer Shop WaiBOP Premiership once again and began 2020 in the best possible manner after beating Otumoetai, one of the title favourites, 3-1 at the Domain on Saturday afternoon.

The weeks since lock-down have been tumultuous for the club and it looked likely the Swifts may not even make it to the starting line. But the players rallied, put in some good training sessions, then fronted up against Otumoetai with a performance of grit, heart, and pride for their club.

The Swifts took the lead on ten minutes when new signing, Chris Lee, crashed home at the far post from a wicked Harry Conner cross and the locals could have doubled their lead several times during the opening 45 minutes.

Otumoetai put on a much improved showing after the break and it was only some desperate defending that kept Matamata’s lead until 20 minutes after the break, when the visitors equalised. With the bench cleared, however, the Swifts found their second wind and it was substitute Finn Challis who proved the start turn. Challis provided a neat assist for Pete Shannon to tuck home the go-ahead goal with twelve minutes remaining, then hooked home the third a minute later to secure the points.

In a rousing team performance, captain Bjorn Vossen and youngster Anton Ganas led the way for Matamata.