Metso Matamata Swifts bounced back from Saturday's tragic league performance against Te Awamutu by matching their much vaunted Northern Premier League opponents, Glenfield Rovers, in the second round of the Chatham Cup.

The Swifts put in a first half effort that was vastly superior to Saturday's offering. In changing to a regulation 4-4-2 (from the usual 3-4-3) Matamata set themselves more of a solid platform from which to contain Glenfield and launch attacks of their own. The pace and strength offered by Jason Collins up front looked the team's most likely outlet, while his striking partner, Hayri Cihan, was great with the ball at his feet.

Matamata's central defensive pairing of Ged Parkinson and Duncan Lowry limited Glenfield's front two of Adam Crump and Brad Scott to only a few half chances, while the full backs, Scott Parsonage and Colin Taylor, were immense. Gary Darkes in the Swifts goal had less to do than two days previously. Andy Birchenough and the impressive Juan Carlos Rodriguez were combative in the middle of the park, allowing wide men, Dima Slack and Andrew Taylor, to range forward.

In a game of few chances the visitors, as would be expected, looked fractionally fresher as time ticked by. The only time the ball hit the back of the net was with less than fifteen minutes to go, but that was only because one of the Glenfield players punched it home. Thankfully the officials were on their game and ruled it out.

The thirty minute period of extra time saw many of the Swifts players running on fumes. The team got through it unscathed, but did have the upright to thank for keeping out Glenfield's best chance of the match during the first added period.

And so the tie went to penalties. The sides were level at 2-2 in the shoot-out before the Swifts missed their next couple. Glenfield netted all four of the kicks they were required to take. It took those misses to finally knock the gallant Swifts side out of the cup at the second round for the third season in a row. This time, at least, they made their higher-ranked opponents work for everything they got.

Also, big respect to Glenfield for the manner in which they conducted themselves during their time in Matamata. It would have been easy for a big Auckland club to treat their visit as a jaunt in the country. Thankfully they didn't fall into the cliche. We wish them well as they progress further in the competition.