Mother Nature was not as kind to us this Sunday, as it has been in previous weeks, for the heavens opened up and nearly drowned a quarter of our pitch and leaving the rest almost as bad. Melville was our opponent this week, now sitting top of the table after our shock victory over Cambridge last Sunday knocked them off there perch and sent them down to second place.

We started this match knowing we were in for an extremely tough and physical game but it seems we were very unprepared for what the first 45 minutes would bring.

Melville set the standard and started with such a ferocious pace right from kick off that we were left unorganised and very much on the back foot.

Sensing this, Melville pounced on us like a sea gull on a hot chip and hammered home three quick goals, all of which came from some very impressive passing.

Half time couldn't have come quick enough for the team giving us a much needed break and a chance to re-think our formation.

With a reworked backline of Dianne Monteith, Nat Gaskell, Shanadelle Howard and the ever improving Roxanne Hanson, we were soon on top of their countless attacks, making the opposition strikers very frustrated, causing their coach to make a couple of changes within the first 20 minutes.

Matamata it seemed had found that missing fight and finally started to attack. Sarah Monteith owned the right wing and made numerous attacks, narrowly missing the goal on a couple of occasions. While Sarah Hockley chased down every through ball sent her way.

Chantelle Van Waveren got our only goal of the match, a great left foot finish from an impressive build up be Serena Jenkins and Sarah Monteith.

Melville however sent home their fourth goal with five minutes to go, ruining the great work the backline had been doing.

Final score 4-1, a very comprehensive win for a team I wouldn't expect anything less from.

Shanadelle Howard earned Matamata Car Painters Player of the Day.