Swifts 1-1 Otumoetai

Recap

Comag Matamata Swifts are the sole remaining unbeaten side in The Soccer Shop WaiBOP Premiership after Saturday’s round 5.

The Swifts’ game against Otumoetai was far from a classic. Both sides had battled through 120 minutes of ISPS Handa Chatham Cup football only two days earlier and it showed. The Swifts returned from their ANZAC Day cup trip to Auckland after a penalty shoot-out victory over Dalian FC in what was, on many levels, a crazy match.

The confidence was palpable but, unfortunately, the win came with a price and Swifts coach Scott Parsonage was forced into a host of injury-related alterations for the match against Otumoetai.

There was little in the way of serious goal mouth action as Otumoetai and the Swifts comfortably kept each other in check. The goals came within a minute of each other midway through the second half. The visitors nodded home from a set-piece and, given the way the match had gone, seemed set for victory.

But Matamata captain, Andrew Clothier, drove forward from the kick-off and was fouled in the Otumoetai box for a clear cut penalty. Jamie Baxter converted to ensure both sides took a point in what was a fair result.