Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts 4-3 Rotorua United
WaiBOP Premiership

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts have moved into second place in the Waikato Bay of Plenty Premiership after pulsating 4-3 win at home over a Rotorua United side that previously occupied that spot.

The sides traded goals inside the opening five minutes. The Swifts went behind after they failed, spectacularly, to deal with a corner, before Jamie Baxter restored parity from the penalty spot after Jordane Lambert had been clattered in the box.

There were no further goals before the break, although there should have been plenty. The visitors went long and direct to their speedy front men at every opportunity, while the Swifts were a bit more measured. It was open, and the chances came and went, but the game was lacking precision in front of goal. That all changed in the second half.

Rotorua got themselves back in front two minutes after the re-start after being awarded, and converting, a spot kick of their own. The Swifts took a while to regain parity but their second equaliser, with just over 20 minutes to go, sparked a frantic finish. The two substitutes, Chris Walker and Raphael Berthelot, combined to let Frenchman Berthelot ram home his first goal, six minutes after coming on for his Swifts debut, making it 2-2.

Less than a minute later the visitors were in front again after some overly generous Swifts defending but the home side kept tightening the screws. Matamata drew themselves level for a third time, after a period of sustained pressure, when Brad West drilled home on 77 minutes then, with five minutes left, they won the game. Berthelot was played in and calmly beat the Rotorua keeper, who had been good all afternoon, to make it 4-3 to Matamata.

 

Richardson Racing Stables Swifts Reserves 4-2 Hamilton Wanderers
WaiBOP Championship

The Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves have picked up their best result of the season after defeating Hamilton Wanderers 4-2 in Saturday’s early game at the Domain.

This was a real turnaround from the reserves, who had struggled for goals all season. After going behind early, the reserves were level at 1-1 at the break after Raphael Berthelot knocked home his first goal for a Matamata team. Chris Walker who, like Berthelot, is coming back from injury, replaced the Frenchman at half time and was the central figure in the second half.

Five minutes after the re-start Walker set up Ram Shettra to put the reserves in front, before bagging a brace himself with some cool finishing. In between Walker’s two goals the visitors had got one back from the spot, but in the end the reserves were well worth their win.

 

Hamilton Wanderers 6-1 Swifts A
Waikato Division A

The Swifts A team was defeated 6-1 at Porritt Stadium by Hamilton Wanderers. Down 4-0 at the break, the A’s fared better in the second half. A goal from Radge Avergonzado was consolation for a battling effort by the team on another difficult afternoon.

 

Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies 0-2 Hamilton Wanderers
Waikato Women’s League

The Challenge Matamata Ladies team were unlucky to be defeated 2-0 by visitors, Hamilton Wanderers, on Sunday after a match in which they certainly created a their fair amount of chances.

Kerrie Cox and Patrice Adamson led the way for Matamata in the middle of the park, while Annemieke Verstraten was a threat up front. At the other end, debutant keeper, Heather Ward pulled off some excellent saves and was unfortunate to be beaten twice.

 

Matamata Swifts U-13 0-3 Papamoa
WaiBOP Federation U-13 League

Despite losing 3-0, the Matamata Under 13s have put in a promising performance against one of the Waikato Bay of Plenty U-13 league’s form teams, Papamoa. The young Swifts were well marshalled at the back by captain, Tyler Tapper, and Jacob Fouhy, while Harry Conner and Braedyn Henderson provided impetus from midfield and Anton Ganas looked a threat up front.

Trailing by two at the break, the U-13s finished stronger than in their previous match and will have taken a lot from their performance. This league is a big learning curve for Matamata’s young players, but they’re already providing promising signs after their first couple of games.

 

Junior Results:

13th Grade – Huntly 0-10 Jets (goals: Anton Ganas 3, Sam Hills 4, Jayden 2, Jordan. POD: Anton Ganas), Falcons 6-3 Wanderers (goals: Rhys Campbell 3, Hunter Logie 2, Madison Hunt. POD: Rhys Campbell).

11th Grade – Claudelands 3-0 Dragons, Wanderers 5-0 Tigers (POD: Zac Foster).

10th Grade – Hillcrest 6-3 Rebels (goals: Liam Costello-McVeigh, Jack Tims 2. POD: Andrew Ganas).

9th Grade – Southwell 0-5 Eagles (goals: Charlotte Salisbury, Harrison Smith 3, Haydn Logie. POD’s: Charlotte Salisbury & Jack Power), Strikers 1-8 Ohaupo.