In the biggest upset of the Federation League season so far Metso Matamata Swifts has lost in Huntly. The previously top of the table Swifts put together a far better footballing performance than in their previous outing, completely dominating possession, shots at goal and territory but failed to score even once during a frustrating day at the office.

After scoring early on from a goal box scramble the home side set out their stall to defend the lead at all costs. They were defensively resolute, setting up a wall of blue that proved difficult for Matamata to score against, even though they repeatedly got around, over and through it.

Wave upon wave upon wave upon wave of Swifts' assaults either petered out or were repelled as the brave Huntly rearguard (numbering pretty much all their ten outfield players) got legs, heads, chests, backsides and, on one occassion, hands(...) in the way of the ball.

About the only thing Matamata goalie, Gary Darkes, had to do all day was pick the ball out of the net after the goal. He just about died of hypothermia such was his overwhelming lack of activity.

At the other end pretty much everyone had an opportunity to score for Matamata. The chances were too numerous to recount them all here. The day was summed up for Matamata when, early in the second half, Andrew Taylor was dragged to the ground in the box by the Huntly keeper and play was waved on. Both benches looked at each other in stupification. Huntly was overjoyed about the luck they had finally received in what has been a tough season to date. Matamata was incredulous at being denied an obvious opportunity to get back on level terms.

This is the joyous uncertainty of football. If the best team won every week then it would be rugby, and there's enough of that rubbish in this country already. It's small consolation, however, when it's your team on the wrong end of the score line.

Matamata has a big Queen's Birthday weekend to look forward to. On Saturday the Swifts play Te Awamutu in the league and on Monday they play top Auckland side Glenfield Rovers in the second round of the Chatham Cup. Both games, thankfully, are in Matamata.