Comag Matamata Swifts picked up a point on Saturday after a crazy 5-5 WaiBOP Premiership draw in Hamilton against unbeaten Melville United.
The bulk of the goals rattled in during the first half. The hosts took an early lead, before the Swifts took control. Goals from Dayne Willemsen and Brad West, with two, had Matamata in a commanding lead just over the quarter hour mark. West completed his first hat trick for the club and Chris Walker added a fifth before half time.
Melville had snuck a second in before the break, then came out firing during the second. They showed why they are among the league’s more favoured teams as they took advantage of a tiring Swifts team to score three times without reply and draw level.
This was a classic wet weather result as both teams had their moments in taking advantage of the slick surface. On the surface a point away to the team that now leads the league is a good result, but giving up a three goal lead adds to the list of what-might-have-been results the team has already racked up this season.
Waharoa Transport Matamata Reserves suffered a 2-1 reverse in mucky conditions at Te Puke United. Matamata trailed by a goal at the break, then allowed Te Puke to double the deficit soon after the break. Mike Smith reduced Te Puke’s lead with a neat headed goal, his second in two games for the club, but the team couldn’t quite do enough to get back on level terms against fairly rugged opponents.
The news wasn’t much better on Sunday as the Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies suffered their second loss of the season at Northern United. Injuries and Mother’s Day didn’t help player availability, but the team was able to field a competitive side against good opponents. Mary Ontiveros scored twice, once from distance and also from the penalty spot, but unfortunately her efforts weren’t quite enough to avoid a 3-2 defeat. The side was forced to paly the final 25 minutes with ten players after Lauren Hilhorst was forced from the field with a fractured arm.
The Swifts 3rd team dropped their first points of the season after being held to a 1-1 draw at Hamilton Masters. Faris Jordan poked home Matamata’s only goal, but the team will be ruing a missed penalty that could have helped them bring home the points.