Cambridge 1-2 Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts
Loaded WaiBOP Premiership
Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts have beaten 2015 Loaded WaiBOP Premiership champions, Cambridge, 2-1 in a tight contest at John Kerkhof Park to maintain third spot in the Waikato Bay of Plenty’s top football league.
The Swifts’ victory was built on a strong defensive showing against one of the league’s top scoring teams, with only a controversial free kick right on half time blotting the team’s copy book. Before that, however, Matamata had looked good going forward, albeit in a match of few true scoring chances.
Chris Walker, in his first start for the Swifts, opened the scoring just inside 20 minutes when he capitalised on a defensive blunder to roll the ball into an empty net. With Matamata missing a number of regular starters Walker, and several others, were thrust into this derby contest and responded well.
Jordane Lambert drew his usual number of fouls during the first half as he and Walker prodded and probed the Cambridge defence, off the back of a strong showing from Matamata’s midfield. The equaliser was a blow, coming as it did so close to the break, but the team responded well during the second half.
Matamata had to deal with a barrage of long balls during the early and mid-stages of the second half as Cambridge forced a number set-pieces. But the newly put together back four, along with keeper Jordan Wise, didn’t buckle. The team’s defensive heroics were rewarded with less than ten minutes to go when, following a corner, the Cambridge goalie threw the ball into his own net under pressure from Dwayne Signal.
This was Matamata’s first win in Cambridge since 2010 and moved the team to within three points of the top of the table.
Cambridge reserves 2-1 Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves
WaiBOP Championship
Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves were defeated 2-1 in the early game at Cambridge on Saturday in a classic game of two halves. The reserves found themselves 2-0 down by half time after the hosts, Cambridge reserves, had dominated the first 45 minutes. But Matamata responded with a far more assured showing in the second half.
Cambridge stuck the ball in their own net less than ten minutes after the restart but, try as they might, the reserves couldn’t find an equaliser.
Eastern City 7-5 Matamata Swifts A
Waikato Division A
The Swifts A team was defeated 7-5 by Hamilton’s Eastern City in a quite extraordinary Waikato Division A match. Ronan Costello (2), Jordan Morrison, Jamie Cox and Rob Cox scored for Matamata in what was a highly encouraging showing against the league leaders.
Cambridge 4-0 Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies
Waikato Ladies Division
On Sunday, the Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies didn’t fare quite as well in Cambridge, losing 4-0 to one of the Waikato Ladies league’s top sides.
Kerrie Cox and Zoe Reichardt combined well in midfield for Matamata, while Heather Ward put in another excellent showing in goal. Despite the result, the ladies battled well all game.
The match was marred by an unsavoury incident that involved a Cambridge player choosing to kick Cox while she lay prone on the ground.
Northern United 3-0 Matamata Swifts U-13
WaiBOP Federation U-13 League
The Swifts Under-13’s also lost on Sunday, 3-0 at top side Northern United, but they weren’t disgraced in holding the leaders goalless at the break and going close to scoring on several occasions.
Northern United had average seven goals a game prior to this match, but came up against a determined Matamata side that is now performing well at this level. Tyler Tapper, again, was strong, but in truth this was a good all round performance by the Young Swifts.
Juniors
13th Grade: Matamata Jets 3-2 Glenview (Goals: Jayden Baker 2, Anton Ganas. Player of the Day: Anton Ganas. Peachgrove 6-3 Matamata Falcons (Goals: Rhys Campbell 2, Madison Hunt. POD: Hunter Logie).
11th Grade: Matamata Dragons 6-0 Cambridge (Goals: Anshil Dayal 2, Reilly Benefield 2, Jack Rawiri, Dylan Brown. POD: Reilly Benefield). Claudelands 3-1 Matamata Tigers (Goal: Logan Cox-Milne. POD: Cassidy Du Preez).
10th Grade: Matamata Rebels 7-1 Horotiu (Goals: Liam Costello-McVeigh 6, OG. POD: Josh Martin).
9th Grade: Northern United 3-3 Matamata Eagles (Goals: Harrison Smith, Jason Li 2. PODs: Jason Li, Haydn Logie). Matamata Strikers 2-2 Crawshaw (Goals: Caley van de Veen, Jamie Scott. POD: Alex Marsh).