Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts dropped points at home for only the second time this season, after being held 2-2 by fourth placed Otumoetai in Saturday’s latest round of the Loaded WaiBOP Premiership.
The visitors presented a tough physical challenge for the Swifts and started well only to see Matamata hit the front in the 6th minute when Chris Walker fired home a Jamie Baxter cross.
Otumoetai snatched a goal back before the break during a first half of multiple opportunities for both sides. The visiting keeper made three good stops while at the other end Otumoetai were their own worst enemies with their profligacy in front of goal.
Baxter put the Swifts back in front on 73 minutes after some quick thinking from a free kick, but Matamata coughed up a late equaliser when some poor decision making led to an opportunity the visitors gleefully took.
In Saturday’s early game, the Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves gave up two second half goals to Otumoetai reserves to lose 2-0. The reserves hit the woodwork twice and missed several chances during a match in which the ball wouldn’t hit the back of the net.
The Swifts A team’s late season form continued with a 4-1 win at Melville United. Jamie Cox led the way with a hat trick, while Dan Holmes also scored. It took a while for the A team to get going this season, but they’re on fire now and will head into the final part of their season with huge confidence.
On Sunday Challenge Matamata Ladies defeated Waikato Unicol 2-1 thanks to goals from Annemieke Verstraten and Sarah Coppard. The match was level a one apiece at the break but Coppard’s second half strike ensured three excellent points for the team as well as a successful defence of the Carter Memorial Challenge Cup.
The Swifts under-13 side completed a league double over Cambridge under-13s after a 4-3 victory. Cooper Wellington scored twice for Matamata, while Dominic Hardie and Harry Conner also found the back of the net to help the side to an excellent win over their local rivals.
Junior results
13th Grade: Matamata Jets 1-6 Cambridge (Goal: Jordan Griffiths. Player of the Day: Sam Hills). Matamata Falcons 1-1 Southwell.
11th Grade: Matamata Dragons dnp. Morrinsville 1-7 Matamata Tigers (Goals: Logan Cox-Milne 3, Michael Griffits, Ashlyn Good, Ericka Landar 2. POD: Jordan Baker).
10th Grade: Te Awamutu 3-2 Matamata Rebels.
9th Grade: Matamata Eagles 2-2 St Josephs Hamilton (Goals: Jason Li, Charlotte Salisbury. POD: Jason Li, Nathan Barlow). Cambridge 3-2 Matamata Strikers.
7th Grade (Sunday): Matamata Magpies finished runners-up in the Cambridge 7th Grade tournament. Results: 4-1 win v Cambridge Austria (Goals: Lucas Smith 2, Alan Li, OG), 4-1 win v Cambridge Belgium (Goals: Leo Williams, Kees Pryor, Lucas Smith, OG), 3-2 v Eastlake Geckos (Goals: Lucas Smith 2, Theo Barlow). Semi-final: 3-1 v Cambridge Belgium (Goals: Alan Li, Kees Pryor, Leo Williams). Final 1-3 v Eastlake Geckos (Goal: Kees Pryor).