Stanley Group Matamata Swifts have bounced back from last weekend's nightmare with a much improved showing in grabbing a 2-2 draw against promotion pushing Mangere United.

This was one of the more entertaining games played at the Domain over the last few years, with goals, controversy and plenty of decent, high tempo football on offer for the good sized crowd.

The Swifts were caught cold and conceded in the first couple of minutes. A break down the left saw the visitors' best player cut inside and rifle home and unstoppable shot off Tom Pamment's near upright.

Matamata came into the match as the 1st half wore on. The Swifts needed to up the tempo to keep pace with the slick Mangere United outfit and they more than managed this, placing the visitors under the type of pressure that led to them coughing up the ball more than they would have expected.

The 2nd half was full of talking points and enough incident to send the fans home with plenty to talk about. Things really kicked off less than ten minutes after the re-start. Moments after Alberto Romero had nutmegged Mangere's goalscorer retribution, of sorts, was exacted. The aforementioned Mangere player drilled Romero in the back of the net with his elbow - a nasty, petulant, cheap shot that should have seen that player marched.

Unfortunately Romero's reaction to the elbow sparked a melee that involved a number of players from each side. When things finally settled down, Romero had received a red card, as had Mangere's captain who retaliated to Romero's retaliation. The elbow, which sparked the whole thing, went unseen by the officials.

But that wasn't the end of the drama by any stretch. Within minutes Matamata's top scorer, Jack McNab, drew the scores level with a neat finish, before Mangere edged in front again. Mangere's scorer? Yes, Mr Elbow.

McNab hauled Matamata level again in the 73rd minute after tidy work in the box following a quality ball from Mackenzie Smith.

The final quarter hour was end to end stuff with both sides' ten men having more space in which to play. Karl Bryant headed a Jamie Baxter cross narrowly over, before Mangere hit the upright with a stinging drive.

The final twist should have seen Matamata awarded a penalty with a couple of minutes remaining. McNab was upended in the box and while the linesman flagged for it the ref was having none of it.

Matamata's improved swing was down to their work rate and intensity. Scott Parsonage led the way on this front, getting up and back and getting his tackles in, while young Bailey Webster proved to be the perfect foil for McNab up front.