Sundays game was a big trip away, so a mini Van was called for and, not knowing how long it would take us to get there, we left very early in the morning. Almost too early, as we arrived at the grounds at 9.40 am. With no changing rooms available to get stripped it was a very exposing event in the middle of the club rooms with a guard on the door!

Everyone was feeling a bit lethargic after the trip down and were not very motivated in the warm up, and also knowing that we only had one sub put more pressure onto the new recruits.

Sundays game also saw Matamata playing a new formation (3-5-2) for the first time. Coach Gaskell wanted to change the type of game plan from a defensive mode to more of an aggressive attack. Within the first 2 mins of the game Matamata were passing the ball around the Taumuranui players and had scored the first goal.

Throughout the first half both sides had equal possession of the ball and play covered the whole field giving everyone a real workout. But, yet again, it saw even more improvement amongst the players as this team is starting to really gel together.

It makes it hard to do a summary of the game because you can't single out just one player. In saying that Serena Jenkins scored an outstanding goal, hitting the ball from out wide and about 5m in, so the ball curved nicely into the goal.

Matamata did miss a lot of attempts at goal, with the Taumarunui keeper did a good job for her team.

At the half time break Matamata were up 7-0.

The second half was a different story. A late comer arriving for Taumuranui up front saw the whole game change, as she had a lot of pace and the skills to go with it. Taumuranui played a lot more aggressively and there were some really strange calls from the ref against Matamata that never seemed to apply to the Taumuranui team.

So, even though there was more pressure on the backline they only managed to let one past, a nice little flick of the ball just over the fingers of the Matamata keeper.

Even though Matamata won the game the second half was not up to our expectations and we were left feeling a little disappointed on the performance and looking forward to a hot shower, which was not there.

So this time it was a change of clothes in the carpark and a stinky ride home in the van!!!

Matamata Car Painters player of the Day was young Ashley Ferguson. Ashley did a great job at right midfield, centering the ball to the strikers and even having a few attempts herself, (and taking into consideration that she had played the day before for Matamata College at Hamilton Girls High).

Goals scorers for the game were - Nat Gaskell - 5, Sarah Monteith - 4 and Serena Jenkins - 1.