Metso Matamata Swifts got their Federation League campaign underway, eventually, with a scratchy, yet ultimately well deserved, home victory over a gutsy Otorohanga side.

Ultimately it took a fluke goal to seal the points for Matamata in what was, for large periods, a disjointed performance. After sustained spells of pressure and the now, almost traditional, miss of a couple of sitters by the Swifts, man of the match, Scott Parsonage, lobbed the ball home from forty yards to give his side victory. The goal capped an excellent performance by the left-back, who also got back late on in the game to clear a Shaun Beattie shot off the line.

With Colin Taylor out and Duncan Lowry nursing a hamstring injury, Matamata was able to give a debut to Allan Ferneire at right-back. He was an oasis of Latin calm in a desert of Anglo Saxon hurly burly. Andrew Taylor came in for Daniel Frischknecht on the right of midfield and put in a solid effort on his first competitive start for the Swifts.

As is always the case in matches between these two sides there was much to keep the crowd happy. Passion, passing and even some moments of precision were all in evidence.

Most of the first half saw the teams, both more subdued than usual, feeling their way into the game. It was largely a midfield stoush until just before the break, when the Swifts front two combined to give their team the lead. Hayri Cihan found himself free on the left and curled in a delightful ball to a rising Jason Collins. The rugged Matamata centre forward placed a delicate header inside the upright for the opening goal.

The first twenty minutes of the second half saw the Swifts at their dominating best. They had forced three corners before the crowd had even taken their seats after their half time cuppa. The passes were starting to stick but the second goal just wouldn't come. Even captain Andy Birchenough had a case of the wobbles, placing wide a great opportunity during this period.

The visitors showed incredible fortitude to weather the strom and, as the Swifts stuttered, struck back with twenty minutes to go. Matamata failed to clear their lines and presented the simplest of chances to the visitor's Jarred Wilson, who made no mistake from right out in front.

Almost immediately the Swifts should have been back in front. A great through ball by Duncan Lowry, on for the tiring Ferneire, was expertly brought down by Dima Slack. Unfortunately his underhit shot allowed the Otorohanga keeper to get down and make the save.

Parsonage's goal got Matamata back in front with ten minutes to go, but that still didn't end things. His clearance off the line, along with a superb save by Gary Darkes from the dangerous Wilson, however, did.