Week 2 of the football season saw the first of a number of double headers to be played at the Matamata Domain this year. On this occasion it was the Tauranga Federation 1 and 2 teams who made the trek over the ranges for the Kaimai derby.

After the slow start at Whakatane last week, the importance of being ready to play from the opening whistle had been a key feature of the the Stanley Group Matamata Swifts' preparation this week. Unfortunately, this advice did not seem to sink as once again the Swifts found themselves down 1-0 early to a simple head in from a long ball.

The Swifts first opportunity of the game came soon after. Bradley West found space on the right wing and knocked a low cross into the box. There appeared to be little danger as the ball fell to a Tauranga defender, however a scuffed clearance saw Ben Watson presented with the chance and it can only be his surprise at the mistake that led to the shot going just wide.

After this miss, Tauranga began to press forward, using the long ball to good effect. Once again the Swifts found themselves under pressure from set plays and it was only the crossbar which prevented Tauranga from going 2-0 up. Matamata did not want to disappoint the large crowd which had turned up to watch, however, and midway through the first half came the big turning point. A sloppy back pass from the Tauranga defence was pounced upon by Watson as he redeemed his earlier miss by ducking in front of the goalkeeper and toeing the ball through to Jamie Cox to equalise from close range.

The Swifts quickly pressed forward in search of a second. A couple of chances were spurned before a dangerous long through ball from Adam Roach dropped into the middle of the Tauranga box. With no-one interested in clearing the ball, Cox put his left foot through it and it somehow found its way through a crowded box to the back of the net.

The scoring was not finished there either. Once again Watson had an assist as a quick throw put Roach away down the left wing. Cutting between 2 defenders, Roach slipped the ball inside the keeper's near post on his weaker right foot to give Matamata a 3-1 lead at the half.

It was early controversy in the second half which threw Tauranga a lifeline. An awkward challenge at the top of the Matamata box saw the referee blow for a penalty, though there was some argument on whether contact had been made inside or outside of the box. The scoreline was soon 3-2 and Tauranga felt they had a chance of forcing a result.

It was Swifts, though, that had the better of the second half chances and looked dangerous on the counter-attack, while Jamie Baxter tried to repeat his efforts from the previous week and was only stopped by the keeper's fingers and the crossbar. But what is any good game without late drama. With Matamata down to 10 men due a late injury to Watson, and Tauranga pressing bodies forward in injury time, the set play once again had Matamata scrambling. A header was tipped onto the post and fell to a striker just yards out with the goal gaping. Somehow, captain Colin Taylor got his body in the way in the near post and the ball was deflected clear.

The final whistle followed soon after and the Swifts had picked up their first, and well deserved, win of the season.

In the early game of the day, the Peter Vossen Builders Swifts Reserves F were made to pay for a slow start. Missing their experience in midfield, the Swifts conceded early goals and soon found themselves 3 behind. A reply from Josh Oed before half-time following a neat through ball from Troy Rosser gave Matamata some hope. However 2 further goals in the second half to the visitors meant that a second goal to Oed provided little more than consolation. With a tough trip to early season leaders Tauranga Boys next week there will need to be some hard yards put in at training.

Sunday saw the return of ladies football to the Domain. With no team entered last year, there was great excitement and this was reflected in both team and crowd numbers for the 11am kick-off. Playing an experienced Wanderer's team, the Swifts ladies with just 4 trainings and no game time together did well to hold their own for much of the match, going in to the half-time break 1-0 down after a late goal. Further second half goals saw the final score blow out to 5-0, but the ladies showed there is plenty to build on and that they will be no easy beats. Next week sees a trip to Huntly for their first away game.