All of Matamata Swifts football teams were back in action over the weekend, and it proved rather fruitful for the club’s senior teams.
Melville United 0-0 Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts
WaiBOP Premiership
Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts returned from Hamilton with an important point taken from this match against early season WaiBOP Premiership leaders, Melville United.
As the scoreline would suggest, the match didn’t rise to any great heights but it helped the Swifts continue their record of having not been beaten in the league since the opening day of the season. The side’s first clean sheet of the season was an important milestone for young keeper, Jordan Wise, but the coaching staff will be looking for more of a cutting edge in the attacking third as the team heads into a run of games against teams currently below them on the table.
The Swifts have played the current top four in their opening six games, generally competing well. Having not played a home game in the league since April 4, this Saturday’s return to the Domain will be a welcome boost.
Whakatane Town 0-2 Richardson Racing Stables Swifts Reserves
WaiBOP Championship
The Richardson Racing Stables Swifts Reserves returned from their longest road trip of the season with their second win of the season under their belt.
Set piece goals four minutes apart from Logan Allen and Jonathan Crook around the half hour mark gave the reserves a comfortable half time margin, which they carried through to the final whistle. Indeed, the reserves will have been disappointed not to have padded out their victory margin in the second half, given the amount of chances created. In the end, further goals weren’t required as the rear-guard, led by the experienced Rob Cox, dealt comfortably with the challenges posed by the home side.
This young reserve side is improving with every game of senior football they play. They look forward to another week off this coming Saturday, which will be supplemented by more work on the training field, before heading into a true test of their improvement when they travel to league leaders, Claudelands Rovers.
Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies 4-0 Mangakino United
Waikato Women’s Division B & Carter Memorial Challenge Shield
The Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies kept their early season run going with a strong performance against a tough Mangakino United side.
The Ladies stood up well to the challenge presented by the visitors to register another three points as well as hold on to the Carter Memorial Challenge Cup for what will be another fortnight, given they play away from home next week. Krystal Morrison led the way for the Ladies with a fine double strike and her performance was complemented by goals from Patrice Adamson and Kerrie Cox.
After earning the right to play during a tricky first half, in which they scored a solitary goal and saw the back four under pressure, the team put together some nice football in a sparkling second half effort. They basically passed their opponents off the field, capping their football with some well taken goals.
Their victory keeps the ladies comfortably inside the league’s top three and in the hunt for a promotion spot.
Swifts Juniors – Open Grade: Glenview United 8-0 Matamata Hornets (Hornets Player of the Day: Cameron Wright); Matamata Tigers 3-3 Southwell; Matamata Falcons 0-3 Gordonton. 11th Grade: Matamata Jets 8-0 Claudelands Rovers. 10th Grade: Claudelands Rovers 1-1 Matamata Dragons; Woodstock 3-0 Matamata Strikers. 9th Grade: Glenview United 12-0 Matamata Rebels; Matamata Eagles 0-4 Te Kowhai (Eagles Player of the Day: Travis Swetman). 8th Grade: Cambridge 6-3 Matamata Magpies (Magpies goal scorers: Penny Lang, Harrison Smith, Eloise Assen. Players of the Day: Jack Scelly & Caley Van De Veen).