Matamata Swifts v Waiuku

Recap

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts put in a competitive showing against higher ranked Waiuku AFC, but were undone by their opponents’ greater intensity at key moments in an attractive, open game of football played at the Domain.

The visitors play in a league two levels higher than the Swifts, so the locals knew they’d be in for a tough afternoon. But Matamata started brightly and didn’t look out of place. Indeed, the Swifts should have been given the opportunity to go ahead in the 18th minute when Ronan Costello appeared to be shoved over in the box, but no whistle was forthcoming.

Waiuku hit back with two goals in six minutes not long after, when a couple of swift attacks were neatly and expertly finished off. Jamie Baxter hit the cross bar from a corner ten minutes before the break, before the visitors stretched their lead in sight of half time from a free kick. The unseasonably bright afternoon did for Swifts keeper, Jordan Wise, when the free kick was slung in from deep, but Wise was blinded by the sun blazing directly down the Domain, and so didn’t even see the ball bounce harmlessly in.

The tone of the second half was set a little over five minutes after the break when Ronan Costello had a header well saved. Gary Dobson headed a free kick onto the cross bar before, with a little over 20 minutes left, Waiuku was awarded a penalty, which was calmly dispatched.

But the Swifts weren’t done. Costello pulled a goal back with 13 minutes remaining, then scored again two minutes later to send a couple of nervous shivers down the visitor’s spines. Substitute, Logan Allen was denied by a superb save, before the Swifts had a shot headed off the line. Gary Dobson drove wide from the resulting corner.

Matamata ended the match with their first defeat since March, but the young team will have taken a lot from the experience of playing a side like Waiuku.