It's back to the drawing board for the Stanley Group Matamata Swifts after a disappointing 4-0 loss to league leaders Tauranga Old Blues, which sees the Tauranga side open up a 4 point lead at the top of the Federation 1 ladder.

It was always going to be a tough encounter for the Swift side who were looking to put 2 wins back-to-back for the first time this season. And while all the pre-match talk was of making a quick start, Matamata soon found themselves on the defensive. With the Matamata keeper inexplicably handling the ball well outside of the box, Old Blues were presented with the first scoring opportunity. The free-kick was well struck and found its way into the top corner, leaving the Swifts down 1-0 early.

Bad turned to worse for Matamata soon after. It doesn't seem to be a Swifts match without a penalty and it was no different here. Old Blues broke down their right hand side and while it was a poor looking challenge, a lot may have been made of whatever contact was made. That said, there was little argument as the home side went 2-0 up with barely 15 minutes played.

Coming back from such a poor start is always difficult, but Matamata did manage to find their feet as the half progressed. Opportunities at either end were rare and the small pitch led to a fairly scrappy affair.

The second half started little differently. The Swifts were able to settle and managed to find more time on the ball, but rarely looked like threatening the Old Blues goal. The home side themselves had only a handful of opportunities as well, but it is the sign of a quality team in good form that they take those chances when they are presented. And that is just what Old Blues managed to do, with 2 goals in quick succession late in the second half pushing the score out to 4-0.

Matamata had one late chance as Ben Watson broke down the right and flashed a shot low and hard. But even this consolation was not to be as the Old Blues keeper made a good save to his right.

In the earlier game of the day, the Peter Vossen Builder's Federation 2 side went down 5-2 to the Old Blues second side. A poor first half saw the Swifts trailing 4-0 at half time, though this was not without creating a host of their own chances. A much improved showing in the second half allowed the Swifts to bring the score back to 5-2 with goals to Richard Underwood and Josh Oed, and this could have been a lot closer if they were a little more clinical in front of goal.

On Sunday the Challenge Ladies side hosted Otorahanga and, even after losing players to a certain school event held the previous night, still managed to put out a very competitive team which continued the side's steady improvement. Unfortunately a 25 minute period before half time saw the side concede 4 goals put the game out of reach before the break, but the side came out refocused and pushed their opposition all the way, eventually going down 5-0. Player of the match was hard to pick with excellent performances across the park, but the stand out of the day went to Victoria Bowers-Mason.

It's back at home for all the teams as both men's teams play host to Rotorua United on Saturday (12.30 and 2.45pm kick-offs) while the ladies welcome Mangakino in the knock-out competition.