Comag Matamata Swifts cruised to their third Loaded WaiBOP Premiership win on the trot with a comfortable 4-2 win at bottom side, Hamilton Wanderers, on Saturday.
Jamie Baxter scored his eighth goal of the season on twelve minutes to settle what would have been the most minimal amount of nerves. When Brayden Lissington kept his excellent recent run going with Matamata’s second just after the half hour the result looked settled, especially given Matamata’s dominance and almost over supply of goal scoring chances.
The hosts, however, were handed a lifeline in the lead up to half time when they were awarded a penalty, which they converted to gain an unlikely foothold in the game.
Matamata was back on the front foot after half time however. Chris Walker restored the Swifts’ two goal lead three minutes into the second half then substitute, Mike Smith, netted his first Premiership goal just after the hour mark to effectively seal the result.
On a day Matamata could really have had any number of further goals, Wanderers dug in and scored their second, again from the spot, midway through the half. The comedy value in the awarding of this penalty wasn’t lost on the Swifts bench, but thankfully it was never going to have an effect on the result. Matamata often struggles to bury the weaker sides so their profligacy, at least, wasn’t entirely out of character.
The Swifts ran out time comfortably enough to secure another three points, which maintained their top six spot in the Premiership standings. Matamata has three games remaining in their 2018 season, including this Saturday’s home fixture against Te Awamutu. Kick-off is at 2.45pm. The team then has consecutive matches against Otumoetai AFC, with the final game of the season set for the Domain on Saturday September 8.
Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies picked up three easy points on Sunday when their opponents, also from Hamilton Wanderers, chose to default their Waikato Women’s A fixture. It’s that time of year, unfortunately. The team now looks forward to this Sunday’s Waikato Plate final against Northern United, which is scheduled for an 11am kick-off at John Kerkhof Park, Cambridge.