Reserves rediscover winning form
Two of the three Matamata Swifts senior sides suffered unexpected defeats at the weekend but the Swifts reserves finally found themselves back in the winners’ circle.
Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts 1 Papamoa FC 3 WaiBOP Premiership
Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts put in their most lamentable 45- minute performance of the season on Saturday, shipping three first half goals from Papamoa at the Domain.
The visitors found themselves two goals up after barely 10 minutes in an opening that, for Matamata, bore a frightening resemblance to some of their performances in early 2014.
Papamoa grabbed their third on the half-hour when one of their strikers was put through unopposed on goal.
The Swifts were better after the break and went close to a goal in the opening stages of the second half but Murray McKenzie fired his shot straight at Papamoa’s keeper.
Matamata had the better of the second half but it wasn’t until near the end that they finally got their goal when substitute Logan Allen rose to head home a Jamie Baxter cross.
While the Swifts are a relatively young side, they had enough experience on the pitch to do better during the first half.
The side should be back to full strength for next Saturday’s match.
They will be looking to put in the sort of effort that consigns matches like this to the history books.
Richardson Racing Stables Swifts Reserves 2
Te Awamutu 1 WaiBOP Championship
In the early game on Saturday, Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves eked out a deserved win over Te Awamutu but they made pretty hard work of it.
Matamata generally had the better of the first half but apart from several half chances didn’t put as much concerted pressure on the visiting keeper as the coaching staff would have expected.
Keeper Matt Aberhart had an easy ride during the first half but was called into action on three separate occasions after the break to keep the reserves in the game. His efforts were rewarded when Matt Monteith netted Matamata’s opener inside the final 10 minutes.
Substitute Reuben Wigelsworth doubled Matamata’s lead minutes later with his first senior goal.
The visitors ensured the match would remain interesting right to the end, scoring almost immediately after Matamata’s second but the reserves comfortably ran the game out to secure a league double over Te Awamutu.
Ngaruawahia 3 Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies 1 Waikato Ladies Division B
Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies suffered a shock defeat at bottom placed Ngaruawahia on Sunday, severely denting their chances of finishing in the top two after Waikato Division B’s first round.
Playing against a side that had not won all season, Matamata would have been expected to win comfortably.
Instead, they found themselves level at one apiece at the break. Krystal Morrison scored the goal, her fifth of the season.
Looking to kick on after the break, Matamata conceded twice against a side that grew stronger as the game went on.
This was only the ladies’ second defeat of the season and meant they’ve lost to both the top and the bottom sides in the league.
Fixtures for (July 18/19):
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Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts v Tauranga City United, Matamata Domain, 2.45pm on Saturday. Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves v Old Blues, Matamata Domain, 12.30pm on Saturday. Unicol v Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies, Waikato University, Hamilton, 11am on Sunday.
Junior Football and Mini-kickers
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