Solid win keeps Swifts at top

COMAG Matamata Swifts defeated Otumoetai FC 5-1 at the Domain on Saturday to maintain their top three spot in the Loaded WaiBOP Premiership.

The Swifts were two goals to the good inside the opening 10 minutes then kicked on against a side they’ve struggled with in the past. Glen Carmichael, in his first start for Matamata of the season, opened the scoring then leading scorer, Chris Walker, doubled the margin.

Walker helped himself to his second on the half hour, while the cross bar and Otumoetai’s keeper ensured the Swifts only led by three at the break. The pace of the front four of Walker, Carmichael, Dayne Willemsen and Brad West had ripped Otumoetai to pieces.

They were at it again at the start of the second half as Walker crossed for Carmichael to nod home. Otumoetai had a glimmer of hope when they grabbed a goal back but it was only a brief respite. Walker slipped home his third with thirteen minutes remaining.

Matamata was superb in patches. The team looked irresist- ible going forward, at times, and the only regret would have been that the victory margin wasn’t larger.

In the early game the Richardson Racing Stables Swifts Reserves conceded twice late on to lose 2-1 the WaiBOP Championship leaders, Otumoetai Reserves. Matamata had the best of a goalless first half, before Ramandeep Singh powered them into the lead early in the second half. Controversy surrounded the lead-up to Otumoetai’s equaliser, which came from the penalty spot, before they found a winner with virtually the last kick of the game.

The Swifts A team suffered their second successive defeat, going down 4-2 to Unicol. Jamie Cox and Ronan Costello scored for the A team, but Unicol was too strong across the park and were worth their victory.

On Sunday the Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies picked up their first point of the season, a 3-3 draw at Hamilton Wanderers. In an end to end tussle, Matamata struck through Patrice Morrison, Holly Manton and Manon van Lith but couldn’t keep their opponents at bay. Wanderers were strong on the counter, scoring twice from breakaways, but Matamata missed a penalty which would have given them a victory.