It was a mixed set of results for the Matamata Swifts with the Peter Vossen Builders Federation 2 side flying the flag for the club with a 3-0 victory against West Hamilton. In the late game on Saturday, the Stanley Group Federation 1 team failed to repeat the dose as they went down 2-1 to visiting Whakatane, their fifth 1-goal loss of the season.

There was a major change to the Federation 1 Swift's line up this week – coach Ted Ansell underwent open heart surgery during the week and the entire club's thoughts and wishes are with him for a speedy recovery. In the interim, assistant coach Scott Parsonage will step-in to fill a player coach role. His first talk pre-match talk focussed on the need to limit the damage done by the long ball and at set play which, combined with pace up front, had been the difference in the Swifts first up loss earlier in the season.

Whakatane's tactics were to be no different in this game, though they appeared to have improved its execution significantly during the season so far. Matamata dropped deeper to counter-act the deep ball, a maneuver which provided greater solidity in the back, but meant a lot less time on the ball for a Matamata side which prefers a possession based game.

The early chances still fell to the visitors though. A long free-kick was nodded goalward and drew a good save, a through ball required a last ditch tackle from Jamie Baxter, but it was the long ball which once again created the opening goal. In what was an almost undefendable attack, the ball over the Matamata defence was met first time by the Whakatane winger and lobbed over the advancing Swifts keeper, Jono Crook, to give the visitors the 1-0 advantage mid-way through the half.

Matamata's best chance of the half came down their left hand side soon after. Andrew Clothier and Ben Watson combined well to create a cross for the advancing Joe Freeman. His shot took a deflection and looped onto the crossbar, and the bouncing ball evaded the charging cavalry.

The second half saw Matamata go out in search of an equaliser while Whakatane continued to look dangerous from set play. Ben Watson was finding plenty of space on the left hand side, and he set out on a mazy run infield part way through the half. Instead of going for goal though, his crossed ball split the defense open. Bradley West made the run down the right and met the ball, slotting it between the keeper's legs to level the scores.

They did not stay level for long. Whakatane quickly pushed forward as they tried to regain their lead. And it came, though not without a touch of controversy. In a game punctuated by the whistle, a heavy challenge at the top of the Swifts box went unchallenged and, with Swifts players bemused, Whakatane quickly found an unmarked player at the far post who volleyed home for what would become the match-winner. It was a painful defensive lapse from the Swifts who had ample opportunity to clear the ball.

There was to be no further scoring in the match and it was another 1 goal loss to the Swifts who will hope they can turn some of these close results their way in the remainder of the season. Player of the match went to Andrew Clothier.

In the early match of the day, the Federation 2 side had the chance to do the double over a travelling West Hamilton side they had already beaten earlier in the season. If you were struggling to find a park at a busy Domain you would have missed the first goal as Jamie Cox found the net early on for Matamata to settle any nerves.

The early goal certainly seemed to help the Swifts confidence as they played their best football of the season so far. The passing was clean, the defence solid and plenty of pressure was being put on the West Hamilton back four. It was this pressure that produced the second goal. Austin Naicker won the ball deep in the West Hamilton half and, as he broke away along the byline, the only answer his defender could muster was a tug on the shirt. Joe Gifford converted from the spot (sorry Joe!) and the Swifts took a 2-0 lead into the half.

The second half didn't see the Swift's net unduly troubled, apart from one strike which rattled the woodwork. However it was a single moment of brilliance which really lit up the half. Another string of passes saw Cox put away into a crossing position, but it was for goal he aimed. A dipping volley from the acute angle left the keeper with no chance. The 3-0 victory lifts the Swifts into the middle of the table, and they have already eclipsed last year's points tally with a number of matches still to play.

On Sunday the ladies team went down 7-0 to second placed Ngaruawahia at home after conceding 5 first half goals. It was an improved second half effort and hopefully they will take some confidence from that as they travel away to face the same opposition next week. Player of the day was Sommer Rickard.

They were followed by a 3-2 loss for the under-15 side against Melville. Leandro Garcia-Bently equalised for Matamata after an early Melville goal, but the visitors pushed out to a 3-1 half time lead. Logan Raynel got Matamata back in the game with an early strike in the second half and that's how it stayed in an evenly contested game. Along with the goal scorers, Finn Challis, Isaac Fraser-Hayes and man of the match Radge Avergonzado were stand-out performers.