Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts 2-0 Katikati
WaiBOP Premiership
Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts have moved to third on the WaiBOP Premiership table after a 2-0 home victory over a rambunctious Katikati side on Saturday.
A bright first half was highlighted by two Swifts goals and the sending off of the visitors’ keeper but it was followed by a second 45 minutes where little of note took place.
Matamata took the lead inside 20 minutes when a deep Sam Masterson cross from the left was brought down by Brad West, who skipped past a couple of defenders before slotting home for his first goal of the season. The Swifts went close several more times, while keeper, Jordan Wise, was forced into one excellent full length save during the visitors’ best spell of the match.
The defining incident of the match game just before the break when big Joe Tompsett was hauled down by the visiting keeper who, as the last defender, was rightly sent from the field as he had denied a goal scoring opportunity. Jamie Baxter stepped up to slot home from the penalty spot for the second time this season.
The second half gave fans of both sides little to cheer, as the Swifts spent a large amount of time in possession, but couldn’t make it tell on an unusually bumpy Domain surface, while Katikati set their stall out well to limit any further damage.
Matamata’s coaching staff will have been pleased with the clean sheet and the mature way in which the team secured the result. New signing, Jordane Lambert, looked likely in his first start and will be better for getting 70 minutes of football under his belt.
Richardson Racing Stables Swifts Reserves 1-2 Tokoroa
WaiBOP Championship
In the early game played at the Matamata Domain on Saturday, the Richardson Racing Stable Swifts Reserves were unlucky to lose by a single goal to their visitors from Tokoroa.
The reserves went ahead in the first minute when Daryl Gibbs nodded home the rebound after Raphael Berthelot had hit the cross bar from deep, but the side couldn’t push home their early advantage.
Two injury-forced substitutions inside the opening 35 minutes didn’t help the reserves’ structure, and neither did the way they gave up the equaliser when they failed to deal with a routine long ball, allowing Tokoroa to pass the ball into an empty net. Josh Oed looked to have restored the lead, however, when he timed his run well to get on the end of a Gibbs pass and slot home, but he was very unlucky to see the off-side flag go up.
The winner for the visitors came midway through the second half when a Tokoroa attacker was allowed to drift past way too many defenders before finishing well. Matamata had several half opportunities to equalise but appeared to run out of juice on what was a very warm autumn afternoon.
Te Aroha 0-5 Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies
Waikato Women’s League
Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies stormed to their first win of the season on Sunday as they beat Te Aroha 5-0 in the Matamata-Piako derby.
A three goal first half put the game to bed, before Matamata added two more in the second half. Leading scorer, Annemieke Verstraten, helped herself to a brace, and she was matched by Kerrie Cox who twice headed home. Gabby Raynel scored the side’s other goal.
Matamata were left with eleven fit players as injury took a toll on the side, but they played to their strengths to strongly put themselves back in the winner’s circle.
Te Awamutu 6-0 Matamata Swifts ‘A’
Waikato Division A
The Swifts ‘A’ team had another difficult afternoon as they lost 6-0 at second placed Te Awamutu. In what’s turning out to be a more difficult than expected league, the Swifts A team has faced some good sides, and Saturday’s experience was no exception.
The players, who range vastly in age, didn’t lack for effort and commitment but were just a bit over-matched against one of the top teams in Waikato Division A.