After an abbreviated schedule a week ago, all Matamata Swifts’ senior teams were back in action this weekend and each ended their match with a similar tale of woe.
Comag Matamata Swifts and Waharoa Transport Swifts reserves had an unhappy time of it over the hill. The Swifts lost 4-0 to WaiBOP Premiership leaders, Papamoa, while the reserves went down 4-1 to Papamoa’s reserves in the early game.
The Swifts were down by three at the break and had also lost captain, Dwayne Signal, to a serious looking injury in what was an ugly first 45 minutes for the team. When Papamoa added a fourth near the start of the second half things looked grim, but the side rallied, showed some heart and spirit, and avoided any further damage.
Signal’s injury was the latest in a long line of physical catastrophes that have destroyed Matamata’s season. With a run of games to come against teams just above them in the table, it was the last thing the side needed as they look to secure their Premiership status for another season.
Finn Challis put the reserves in front in their game but Papamoa equalised and the side suffered the now familiar set of wobbles which helped their hosts to score three more goals without reply.
Rob Cox scored the only goal for the Camel Kebab Swifts 3rd team as they lost 2-1 at neighbours, Cambridge. The 3rds weren’t without their opportunities, however, and will be ruing chances missed in a match they could have taken more from.
On Sunday, Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies ran leaders, West Hamilton United, close in their latest Waikato Division 1 match, before also going down 2-1. After last weekend’s win at second-placed Tokoroa, the third-placed Swifts entered this match with confidence and a determination to give West Hamilton a scare and possibly something more.
The visitors took a first half lead, before Kerrie Cox equalised with a neat chip in the second half. Both sides had chances to snatch a winner, with Matamata forcing two one-on-ones, while West Hamilton looked to control possession and press from set pieces. And it was from a corner that the Hamiltonians won the match.
To Matamata’s credit, they matched their much-vaunted opponents for much of the game, with willingness, aggression and a bit of pace putting pressure on the tidy West Hamilton style of football.