Matamata Swifts’ senior teams completed an unbeaten weekend on the back of a significant goal haul at the Domain. There were 27 goals in the four games as the teams recorded three wins and a draw.
Comag Matamata Swifts notched their fourth win in a row, beating Rotorua United 3-1 in an almost totally one-sided Loaded WaiBOP Premiership match. If not for an inspired performance from Rotorua’s goalie the margin would have been far greater. The Swifts settled for first half goals from Sam Masterson and Scott Parsonage, while a late strike from leading scorer, Chris Walker, settled matters.
Along with a string of fine saves from the visiting keeper, Matamata also hit the woodwork several times, missed a penalty and even an open goal to limit the damage. Such was the performance of Rotorua’s keeper that he even scored their goal from a free kick just inside his half that was powered under the cross bar by a strong Domain breeze.
The Swifts may rue the missed opportunities, but the performance was good on a tricky surface and, most importantly, they banked another three points to stay in the Premiership’s top four. The team has a game in hand over the two teams above them, who they also play in the next fortnight.
In the early game between the clubs’ reserve teams, Richardson Racing Stables Matamata Reserves battered Rotorua 7-3 to claim their most convincing win of the season. Matamata scored all their goals in the first half, with Ram Singh and Jason Khatkar both grabbing doubles and Finn Challis, Koto Higashionna and an own goal completing the scoring. The visitors scored the only second half goal as the match petered out after the break.
The Swifts A team shared the points with Wanderers Classics after a classic, end-to-end 4-4 draw. Jamie Cox helped himself to a hat trick and was joined on the scoresheet by Ronan Costello to have the team ahead going into the final stages, but their hopes of a well-deserved win were dashed when the visitors were awarded, and converted, a late penalty.
On Sunday the Challenge Matamata Swifts ladies ran wild as they beat Northern United 5-0 in their final home game of a fine season. Needing wins in their final two games to have a chance of winning the Waikato Bowl, they made no race of this match.
Kerrie Cox scored a hat trick for the team while a brace from leading scorer, Patrice Morrison, helped improve the victory margin in what was another good performance from a team that has been a revelation at this level in 2017.