Swifts 7-2 Ngaruawahia

Recap

Comag Matamata Swifts released months of pent up footballing angst on Saturday, defeating Ngaruawahia United 7-2 at the Domain in their latest Soccer Shop WaiBOP Premiership match with the type of clinical finishing that had previously been absent all season.

The talk leading up to the match was that, in recent games, Matamata had created more than enough but, for some reason, the goals just wouldn’t go in. While this match ultimately changed that outlook, it began in depressingly familiar circumstances. The visitors were two goals ahead inside seven minutes, with the second goal seemingly scored from an offside position, then they saw a penalty shout waved away after a clear hand ball in the Ngaruawahia box.

Here we go again, thought the local fans.

Nope, not on this day. The Swifts turned the game around in stunning fashion, scoring five times in nineteen minutes to surprise and delight the Swifts faithful and coaching staff alike. Bjorn Vossen set the ball rolling with a quickfire double that drew Matamata level, before Hardy Rosas volleyed home a Brad West cross to give Matamata the lead. Chris Walker then scored two of his own, the first after being played through one-on-one and the second from a free header.

Where the heck had that come from?

The second half was sedate by comparison. Walker completed his hat trick with twenty minutes left after a neat run and finish, then captain for the day, Hayden Turlington, slipped home Matamata’s seventh late on to send home fans home happy.

This result and performance hopefully provides the shot of confidence Matamata needs to mount a late season run with still seven games remaining.