Swifts 2-0 Cambridge

Recap

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts 2-0 Cambridge
Loaded WaiBOP Premiership

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts completed a delicious 2-0 derby day win over Cambridge on Saturday to move to second, at least temporarily, in the Loaded WaiBOP Premiership standings.

This was always likely to be a tasty encounter and it didn’t disappoint the home fans. The visitors arrived with a clear plan in mind – kick Jordane Lambert – but the Swifts are familiar with this approach and introduced a plan to take full advantage.

Lambert drifted high and wide, drawing Cambridge’s strongest players out of the centre of the park like red and white moths to the flame. This created huge gaps in midfield that allowed the Swifts to flood forward.

Had Matamata’s execution been better the match would have been over by the half hour. Ben Vogt and Chris Walker, twice, had golden opportunities superbly saved by the visiting goalie, before Logan Raynel, in his first start, tapped home the opening goal five minutes before the break.

Two minutes later Walker broke through again, toed the ball past the keeper and was clattered for what appeared a clear penalty. He then got up and was booked…probably for going down to easily.

Walker and Lambert had great chances to extend Matamata’s lead in the five minutes after the restart, before the visitors came into the game for a period. Cambridge had a good spell midway through the half, during which they hit the upright and forced two excellent saves from Jordan Wise, but Matamata broke again inside the final ten minutes to finally seal the win. Walker’s pace got him in on goal before he squared to Vogt who slammed the ball home.