Otumoetai 4-0 Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts
Loaded WaiBOP Premiership
Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts have suffered a setback in their WaiBOP Premiership campaign, succumbing to a late onslaught of goals to lose 4-0 away at Otumoetai in what was their second defeat of the season.
Fergusson Park is something of a bogey ground for the Swifts and there was little in Saturday’s performance to suggest that was going to change this weekend. After having playmakers Jordane Lambert and Raphael Berthelot kicked all over the park during the first half, Matamata fell to bits late on and would have been relieved in the end to limit the damage to only four.
The theme for the day was set early when Berthelot was clattered and sent spinning by Otumoetai’s right back, but no yellow card was forthcoming. That continued, to the frustration of all in black and white.
Unfortunately, Matamata didn’t respond well to the battering. Instead of appreciating what was going on and responding by tightening things up, sitting deep and looking to attack Otumoetai on the counter after the break, the Swifts allowed themselves to become stretched all over the pitch, which gave their hosts the space they needed to play in.
Otumoetai opened the scoring six minutes after the break before the Swifts had two chances that could have altered the course of the match. Five minutes after the goal Sam Masterson shot over a half open goal from outside the box before Joe Tompsett had a shot saved from point blank range with just over 20 minutes left. Thirty seconds after that save Otumoetai had the ball in the net at the other end.
The hosts completed a perfect afternoon when they scored twice in the final ten minutes. They also hit the upright and saw Jordan Wise deny them with an excellent save.
Otumoetai Reserves 0-0 Richardson Racing Stables Swifts Reserves
WaiBOP Championship
The Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves have picked up another point from a goalless draw in the early game at Otumoetai, but would have been disappointed not to have comfortably won a game in which they had a vast amounts of possession and created a host of goal scoring chances.
Unfortunately in this infuriating game of ours, the only stat that matters is the scoreline, and on that front the reserves couldn’t get the job done. The front two of Ram Shettra and Chris Walker should have gorged themselves against this opposition, but were only left frustrated as the chances went high and wide.
New signing Brayden Lissington looked comfortable in midfield, and put in an effective Matamata debut beside Dan McKellar and Lawrence Clothier. But everything the reserves tried only ended in frustration and they had to settle for a point rather than the three they deserved.
Te Awamutu 2-1 Swifts A
Soccer Shop Waikato Cup
The Swifts A team has been knocked out of the Waikato Cup after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat at Te Awamutu. Despite a goal from Jamie Cox, the A team was left frustrated after a challenging old afternoon at the Te Awamutu Stadium. The A team will now play for the Waikato Plate, a competition the team won several years ago.
Northern United 1-1 Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies
Waikato Women’s League
The Challenge Matamata Ladies team were unlucky to be held to a 1-1 draw at Northern United after creating enough chances to defeat their Hamilton-based opponents. Sarah Coppard scored for Matamata in the first half to counter a soft goal by Northern, but the team couldn’t quite manage to find a winner their second half performance deserved.
April Donnelley put in a good shift in the variety of positions she was asked to play, while the whole team can be commended for putting in a good performance in the variety of conditions thrown at them throughout the game.
Cambridge U-13 2-3 Matamata Swifts U-13
WaiBOP Federation U-13 League
The Matamata Under 13s have picked up their first win of the season after a spiteful match at near rivals Cambridge. Two Sam Hills goals, with no reply, had the young Swifts ahead at the break before the side conceded a soft goal and a home town penalty which allowed their hosts to level the scores after half time.
Braedyn Henderson, however, decided this was a match the young Swifts were not going to lose, and his goal just under 20 minutes after the break ensured his team would head home with their first three point haul of the season. Matamata’s two dispensated over age players, Tyler Tapper and Don Smitstra were among the start performers.