Recap

In the result of the Loaded WaiBOP Premiership weekend, the Swifts fought back from a half time deficit to beat second-placed Unicol 2-1 in a result that has almost snuffed out the students’ title chances.

After talking an early lead Unicol were the stronger team during the first half. Their lively wide men mounted sustained pressure on the Swifts defensive unit, who did well to keep the lead to one at the break. Matamata did have their moments, however, as Dayne Willemsen looped a shot just over the bar and the team also had a good penalty shout waved away.

It was a different game after half time. The Swifts looked far more incisive going forward, creating three great opportunities before Willemsen fired home the equaliser on the hour.

By then, Unicol was a shadow of their first half team and the Swifts continued to prise them open.

The goal that turned out to be the winner came with fourteen minutes left. Leading scorer, Chris Walker, squared for Brad West to lash the ball home.

Unicol mounted a period of sustained late pressure, but a combination of strong Swifts defending and a couple of brave saves by keeper, Patrick Steele, matched with their own desperation, meant the Swifts held on to record their fifth win in a row.

The victory sees Matamata remain in fourth on the table, but they now sit only two points behind second placed Unicol with a game in hand. The Swifts have four games left, including this Saturday’s trip to third-placed Tauranga Old Blues, who sit one point above Matamata. While Cambridge, who are now six points clear, appear likely Premiership winners, the tightness of the table means the next four or five spots are still up for grabs.

Details

Date Time League Season
August 26, 2017 2:45 pm WaiBOP Premiership 2017

Ground

Jansen Park
28 Morris Rd, Silverdale, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoalsOutcome
Waikato Unicol101Loss
Matamata Swifts022Win

Waikato Unicol

Position Goals Assists Yellow Cards Red Cards
 0000

Matamata Swifts

# Player Position Goals Assists Yellow Cards Red Cards
1Patrick SteeleGoalkeeper0000
4Jamie BaxterMidfielder0000
5Michael DawsonDefender0000
6Reuben WigelsworthMidfielder0000
7Brad West 12Midfielder1000
8Scott ParsonageMidfielder0000
9Chris WalkerForward0000
10Dayne WillemsenForward1000
11Sam MastersonDefender0000
13Glen CarmichaelMidfielder0000
18Shaun RichardsonDefender0000
12Radge Avergonzado 7Midfielder0000
 Total 2000