Metso Matamata Swifts picked their final game of the 2007 season to pull off one of the best results of the season. Up against the third placed visitors, the Swifts made no race of this contest to all but assure themselves of second place in the league, albeit miles behind champions Taupo.

With Alberto Romero unavailable through injury and Juan Carlos Rodriguez only making the bench, Swifts coach Duncan Lowry went into the match with a revolutionary 3-1-3-2-1 formation and also handed a starting debut to new signing Lucas Costa. The players took a little while to adjust to this radical new outlook, but eventually got things going.

Goals to Neil Slater after seven minutes and Andy Birchenough just before the break gave the Swifts a comfortable 2-0 half time margin. Slater did well to twist and turn in the box before firing the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot. His goal settled the nerves after a shifty start by the Swifts.

Slater also hit the upright during the first half, while Scott Parsonage and Jason Collins had excellent chances to score. Birchenough's goal, a twenty yard drive through a forest of players, set the seal on a good first half performance.

Collins got both the second half goals, using his head to good effect. His first came from a Colin Taylor cross and it was deftly placed past the visiting keeper. The second came from a well worked free kick that saw Andy Birchenough drive the ball to Duncan Lowry on the far post. Lowry headed the ball across the goal to Collins who made no mistake from close range.

The score line should really have been more than 4-0 but Whakatane, missing some of their regular starting eleven, competed well and put up a good fight in what must have been difficult circumstances for them.