The Stanley Group Matamata Swifts Federation 1 side travelled to Neil Hunt Park to face Rotorua in what was their final away game of the season. While Matamata are looking to push for a top 4 position, it was Rotorua who had more to play for as they find themselves in a four way scrap to avoid relegation.

And it was possibly this added incentive which saw the home side start the stronger. Matamata were unable to keep possession for long periods and seemed intent on making life hard for themselves as they gave the ball away on a regular basis. Rotorua however, for all their early dominance, were unable to create any clear cut chances.

Mid-way through the first half Matamata began to work themselves in to the match. And it wasn't long before they were creating the opportunities that had eluded their hosts. Andrew Clothier, playing his last game for the side before returning to the States for study and football, knocked in a ball from the right. While the breeze made things difficult, and Peter McCoskrie was challenging in the vicinity, it still seemed a ball destined for the goalkeeper. Instead the ball ended up at Ben Watson's feet and he had to time to look at the linesman for offside and the keeper on the ground before slotting the ball into the empty net.

While the Swifts continued to press forward, Rotorua were still threatening at the other end of the park. And they should have levelled soon after. Counter-attacking from a Matamata corner they broke down the right. The ball was played in to the centre but, with the goal beckoning, the onrushing striker could only volley wide.

Matamata were having their own difficulties in front of goal. Scott Parsonage found himself behind the defence, but the ball wouldn't settle and he fired over, and the rest of the Swifts strike force were faring no better. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, the score remained 1-0 at the break.
The second half started much as the first had finished. Matamata were pressing to add to their advantage, but it soon became very apparent that the shooting boots had been left well and truly at home. On another day this could have turned into a rout as chances were spurned across the field. Instead, memories of early season woes were returning. And the nerves weren't helped as, entering the final 15 minutes, Rotorua once again began to put pressure on the Matamata goal.

With the clock winding down though, it seemed that Matamata had done enough to escape with the win. There was to be one final chance for the home side however, as the Rotorua striker was brought down just outside the box. He picked himself up to take the free kick, but only managed to blast over the top. And, save for one late, slightly panicked, scramble, that was that. Certainly not the greatest performance from the Swifts, but 3 points nonetheless. Player of the match went to Adam Roach.

In the early match of the day, the Peter Vossen Builders Reserve side will be disappointed with their performance as they went down to Rotorua. Leading 2-1 with just 15 minutes to go thanks to goals from Joe Gifford and Matias Antunez, Matamata seemed to believe they had the game wrapped up. Instead, they conceded 3 late goals to go down 4-2.

The Challenge Swifts Ladies side faced league leaders Morrinsville on Sunday. They were unable to keep up their recent form as they reverted to early season mistakes and went down 8-0. Player of the day went to Ngaio Greaves.

The Swifts Under-15s were narrowly defeated 3-2 by Geyser A. The Swifts went ahead eraly but let Geyser back in the game. The match was level at 1-1 at the break but the hosts edged the second half to take all three points. Kyle Fannin and Bailey Froome scored the goals for Matamata while Finn Challis was the man of the match.

Next week sees the Federation 1 team welcome another team battling to avoid relegation as they face Melville (2.45). The Federation 2 side host Papamoa (12.30). On Sunday, the ladies travel to Waikato Unicol (11.00) as they look to continue their run in the Waikato Plate knockout competition in what is a big semi-final clash for the team. The Under-15s host Hamilton Wanderers at 1pm.