It was a tough weekend for the majority of the Swifts senior and junior sides, but there were still some stand-out results.
Cambridge 3-1 Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts
WaiBOP Premiership
Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts were eventually worn down by runaway WaiBOP Premiership leaders, Cambridge, on Saturday, but not before frustrating the home side during a derby that had pretty much everything.
An early goal to the Swifts set things up nicely. Andrew Clothier caught the Cambridge keeper off his line with a fine shot from distance. Things should have got worse for the home side, but an ugly two footed lunge on Dwayne Signal just after the quarter hour was rewarded with a yellow card, when everyone present expected a red, and was the impetus for the home side to claw themselves back into the game.
The hosts went close to equalising twice before they found their goal five minutes before the break. The Swifts conceded penalty and Cambridge made no mistake from the spot.
Cambridge had the better opportunities in a competitive second half, but when ex-Swift Glen Carmichael missed his second gilt-edged opportunity of the game, which was swiftly followed by Jordan Wise making a fine save from Cambridge’s second penalty, it looked like Matamata might escape with a point.
But Carmichael had other ideas. He raced through with ten minutes remaining to calmly break Matamata’s hearts with a cool finish. The hosts scored their third two minutes into injury time with a fine strike from distance.
For the Swifts, centre halves Michael Dawson and Jackson Allen performed well, as did the lively Clothier and young midfielder Sam Masterson.
Cambridge reserves 4-0 Richardson Racing Stables Swifts Reserves
WaiBOP Championship
Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves suffered through a difficult 90 minutes at second placed Cambridge in Saturday’s curtain raiser, going down to their biggest defeat of the season.
The reserves struggled to come to grips with a surface that made playing even a five metre square pass an adventure, but still managed to create a host of openings. The difference between the two sides was at the pointy end, with the hosts lethal in front of goals while Matamata was somewhat wasteful.
Despite the stark reality of the scoreline, there was enough for the young reserves to take from the game in what is something of a development season. Brad West and Logan Allen looked good going forward while Cullen Tappin put in a good performance at the back.
Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies 3-0 Hamilton North
Waikato Ladies Division B
Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies continued their fine season on Sunday with another solid home victory.
The visitors put up the expected strong challenge, proving at times difficult to break down, but Matamata managed to grind them down and won through goals from Patrice Adamson and youngsters Gaby Raynel and Annemieke Verstraten.
The defence put in another solid shift which helped goalie, Ana Paterson, keep her sixth clean sheet of the season.
This victory took Matamata another step closer to securing second spot in the first round. They have two games left to tick off this milestone in what is turning out to be an excellent return from their first season back at this level.
Juniors: Open Grade – Matamata Hornets 0-1 Fairfield 1st XI; Matamata Tigers 2-3 Cambridge (Tigers scorers: Reuben Davis, Brodie Cleaver. POD: Will Winke); Gordonton 3-0 Matamata Falcons. 11th Grade – Cambridge 10-0 Matamata Jets (Jets’ Player of the Day (POD): Logan Crispe). 10th Grade – Hamilton Wanderers 1-4 Matamata Dragons (Dragons’ scorers: Jack Rawiri 2, Joel Harris, Jake Fannin); Hamilton West 4-1 Matamata Strikers (Strikers’ scorer: Damon Shaw. POD: Damon Shaw). 9th Grade – Cambridge 4-4 Matamata Rebels (Rebels scorers: Dylan Brown 3, Jack Tims. POD: Jack Tims); Matamata Eagles 0-5 Vardon (Eagles’ POD: Molly Hills). 8th Grade – Matamata Magpies 1-9 Cambridge (Magpies’ PODs: Harrison Smith).