Both Matamata Swifts men’s teams will have felt hard done by on another challenging Saturday afternoon, while the goals flew in for some of the club’s junior teams. Dylan Brown scored an incredible 11 goals in the Matamata Rebels’ 15-3 victory in Hamilton and he’s sure to have the scouts flocking to the Domain after that effort!
Otumoetai 1-0 Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts
WaiBOP Premiership
Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts returned home empty handed after a frustrating Saturday afternoon over the Kaimais. The side’s biggest area for improvement, sticking the ball in the net, was on show again as the chances came and went but not one would go in.
The decisive goal in this game came just two minutes before half time. Otumoetai hoisted the ball into the box and, although Swifts keeper Jordan Wise got a hand to the resulting shot, it found its way into the back of the net. The timing couldn’t have been much worse.
Matamata battled away during the second half, creating enough chances to win the game, but the team lacked the crucial cutting edge. The young Swifts side is currently experiencing the vagaries of this great game and, while it will be scant solace, the more senior games they play the more consistent the side will become.
The Swifts will now look to a run of home games over the second half of the season, including two in the next two weeks, as they attempt to regain some form and start heading back up the table.
Te Puke 3-3 Richardson Racing Stables Swifts Reserves
WaiBOP Championship
Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves came within seconds of recording what, on the surface, would have been one of the upsets of the season at promotion chasing Te Puke. The hosts required a controversial added time goal to rescue a point against a Swifts reserves side that rebounded well from last weekend’s defeat in Cambridge.
A top first half effort saw the reserves head into half time with a two goal lead thanks to strikes from Josh Oed and Logan Raynel. The team settled into the game well, playing positive attacking football that set the home side back.
The sides traded goals in the first ten minutes for the second half with Oed’s second goal of the afternoon seeing the reserves enter the final ten minutes with a 3-1 lead, but Te Puke grabbed their second goal with eight minutes remaining then a late, late equaliser that had more than a hint of off-side about it.
The draw would have felt like a loss for a Swifts reserve side that deserved more. The initial sense of injustice will pass and the coaching staff will reflect on another good performance from this young development team.
Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies had no game this weekend.
Juniors: Open Grade – Matamata Hornets 4-0 Te Awamutu (Hornets scorers: Cameron Wright 2, Harry Conner, Sam Hills. Player of the Day (POD): Jacob Foughy); Matamata Hornets 8-0 Peachgrove – K/O Cup (Hornets scorers: Sam Hills 3, Jacob Foughy 2, Harry Conner, Edward James, Don Smitstra. POD: Don Smitstra); Matamata Tigers 0-4 Glenview United (Tigers’ POD: Jorden Griffiths); Hillcrest 6-4 Matamata Tigers – K/O Cup (Tigers’ scorers: Will Benefield 3, Will Winke. POD: Jayden Baker). Matamata Falcons 3-0 Ngaruawahia. 11th Grade – HRFC 3-0 Matamata Jets. 10th Grade – Matamata Dragons 4-4 HRFC (Dragons’ scorers: Jake Fannin 2, Reilly Benefield, Jack Rawiri); Matamata Strikers 2-4 Hillcrest (Strikers’ scorer: Damon Shaw 2. POD: Keeley Temm). 9th Grade – Hillcrest 3-15 Matamata Rebels Rebels’ scorers: Dylan Brown 11, Jack Tims 2, Jay Benefield, Tim Baxendine. POD: Brodie Rooney); Southwell 3-0 Matamata Eagles. 8th Grade – Morrinsville 0-9 Matamata Magpies (Magpies’ scorers: Penny Lang 3, Eloise Assen 2, Caley Van de Veen, Harrison Smith, Nathan Quinn, Jamie Suisted. POD: Caley Van de Veen).