Swifts 2-1 Te Awamutu

Recap

Matamata Swifts had a bright footballing weekend as Comag Matamata Swifts made it four Loaded WaiBOP Premiership wins on the trot, while the Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies brought home silverware after victory in the Waikato Women’s Plate final.

A still-wintery Domain saw the Swifts edge past traditional rivals, Te Awamutu, 2-1 on Saturday in a match that never really rose to any great heights. The visitors were lively throughout, but the Swifts had an early lead when Brayden Lissington pounced on a keeper’s error to score the first half’s only goal. Matamata had slightly the better of the first 45 minutes but Te Awamutu hit the cross bar as the break neared.

Te Awamutu started the second half the stronger team as a strangely out of sorts Swifts struggled to break out. Thankfully the visitors struggled to create much in the way of clear cut openings, with their best effort well saved by keeper Karam Singh’s feet.

Matamata’s nerves were eased with 20 minutes remaining when Chris Walker was hauled down twice in the box, leaving the referee no alternative but to award a penalty, which Jamie Baxter duly converted to double the Swifts’ lead.

Te Awamutu got a deserved goal late on from a neat header but Matamata held on comfortably to take another three points.