Comag Matamata Swifts’ excellent recent run continued as they won 5-0 over Tauranga Blue Rovers at a sodden Matamata Domain on Saturday.
Brad West poked home a Chris Walker cross less than ten minutes in to settle the home side’s nerves and they went on to provide a dominant display against a visiting side missing several key players.
Two goals in three minutes in the lead up to half time effectively settled the result as first Walker, then West again, fired home to give the Swifts a solid buffer at the break. Matamata probably should have had a couple more goals in the bank, but had proved wasteful in front of goal until their quickfire double.
It was much the same after the break as Matamata held sway after a brief Rovers resurgence. West completed his hat trick twenty minutes in before Jamie Baxter zipped home a free kick to complete the scoring with just over ten minutes left.
After looking to be in a serious relegation fight only three weeks ago, the Swifts have rediscovered their goal scoring mojo and have rocketed back up a congested table. They now appear to be playing like the side they looked like they were on course to be during the opening weeks of the season.
In the early game, Waharoa Transport Matamata Reserves lost 2-1 to Blue Rovers’ reserves. The team certainly wasn’t without their chances, but only had a late Ronan Costello strike to show for their efforts in a game they should have taken so much more from. Such has been their season.
Camel Kebab Matamata 3rds lost 1-0 to visiting Te Awamutu in a game that had to be moved to the college due to conditions at the Domain. Jamie Cox went close to levelling the scores late on only to see his goal bound shot ruled out for off-side.
The wild weather finally had an impact on Sunday as Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies’ Waikato Plate semi-final against Otorohanga was called off after lightning, thunder and torrential rain before and after the scheduled kick-off time meant that no play was possible at the Domain. This game will need to be rescheduled, probably to this weekend.