Swifts 5-3 Old Blues

Recap

Comag Matamata Swifts seem to be getting back in the groove after an important 5-3 victory over Tauranga Old Blues on Saturday. The Swifts lost three league games during late-May and June, but the turn of the month has led to an upswing in form, with two consecutive wins over tricky opposition.

Saturday’s game began with a rush. Leading scorer, Chris Walker, lifted the ball home to give the Swifts a 6th minute lead, before the visitors hit back twice to lead before the quarter hour had passed.

Both teams were set up to attack, so the chances continued to come at each end. Old Blues were forced into last ditch defending to scramble three goal mouth melees away, while the Swifts were relieved to see an effort from the visitors hit the woodwork, the best of several opportunities for them.

Matamata was level on the half hour after Bjorn Vossen smacked the ball home from beyond 25 yards and the teams continued to trade blows up until the break, without any further damage.

The Swifts won the game during a relentless 15 minutes after half time. Four minutes after the break Brad West slid home the team’s third after Walker had a one-on-one opportunity well saved, before Vossen got his second of the day from a close range free kick after the visiting keeper picked up a back pass. Glen Carmichael then nipped in to lash home Matamata’s fifth before Walker hit the side netting as Matamata threatened to over-run Old Blues.

The visitors regrouped and took control of possession as the Swifts determined to look after their lead. This led to several hairy moments, but most of the visitor’s chances came from range. Old Blues got their third in the final quarter hour from a well taken free kick, before the Swifts were reduced to ten men following Michael Dawson’s second yellow card.

Old Blues couldn’t press home their numerical advantage as the Swifts dug deep to keep them at bay and secure the win from an entertaining game played between two well matched, attacking sides.