Swifts v Onehunga Mangere

Recap

Matamata Swifts officially welcomed COMAG on board as naming rights sponsor of the club’s first team with a resounding 6-0 victory at the Domain over Onehunga Mangere United in the latest round of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup.

The Auckland-based visitors play one league higher than Matamata so entered the match as warm favourites. But it was the Swifts who looked the sharper outfit right from the kick-off and they crafted several openings before leading scorer, Chris Walker, finally put them in front just after the 20 minute mark.

Midfielder Sam Masterson, one of the Swifts’ best performers on the day, doubled Matamata’s lead six minutes before the break when his cross-come-shot flew under the crossbar.

The visitors had looked good on the break, hitting the crossbar during the first half, but Matamata effectively ended their resistance when Brad West skipped around the keeper five minutes into the second half to give the Swifts a three goal lead.

From there the Swifts powered home, scoring three times in the final quarter hour to complete the rout. Captain Scott Parsonage helped himself to a double – one from close range and one a screamer from outside the box – before substitute Logan Raynel slid home the sixth right on full time.

After a preliminary round victory and now this result in round 1 the Swifts are now as far into the cup as they’ve been for a decade. The draw for round 2 is early this week and there is the potential to play one of the country’s biggest clubs. Hopefully the Swifts get the chance to do this at the Domain.