Matamata Swifts continued their Federation League pre-season campaign with another decent session at the sweat shop that is the Matamata Domain. Up against willing opponents, the Swifts squad had a decent workout under the blistering sun and on a Domain surface that has seen better days. Let's hope this drought breaks soon...

The match wasn't exactly a feast of flowing football, although the Swifts generally held sway and were well enough in control to deserve victory. Gareth Clark opened the scoring midway through the first half after being expertly put through by Mike Spencer. It was another cool finish from sixteen year old Clark who, if he carries on like this, will soon have a weight of goal scoring expectation on his young shoulders.

The visitors levelled things up just before the break after a balls-up at the back presented one of their two giant strikers with an open goal at which to aim.

Matamata went back in front only minutes into the second half. One of the Waitemata defenders turned a cross into his own net, although Jason Collins was hovering and would have had a simple tap in.

The Swifts lost both Dima Slack (groin) and Jason Collins (concussion) to injury during the second spell, adding to the casualty list. Collins was unlucky as he was cleaned out by the visiting keeper in the box.

Matamata took the opportunity to try new face, Leo Regulado, out at right back. He played the last twenty five minutes and looked solid, and this was on the back of a full game in the curtain-raiser. Spencer and Clark were good once again, while Andrew Taylor, playing against a side coached by his father, put in a solid shift at right back, before finishing up front (although he couldn't quite get the goal he would have liked).

The Swifts' next assignment is a difficult one next Thursday evening against Tauranga City United.

Swifts squad: Gary Darkes; Andrew Taylor, Ged Parkinson, Duncan Lowry, Scott Parsonage; Carlos Rodriguez, Andy Birchenough, Alberto Romero, Mike Spencer; Gareth Clark, Jason Collins. Subs: Leo Regulado, Dima Slack, Andrew Clothier.


Swifts Reserves

The Swifts Reserves should have racked up a cricket score in this one, but had to settle for a solitary Daniel Holmes strike and a lesson in why this is the greatest yet most frustrating sport on the planet.

The reserves looked sharp around the field and assured at the back. Holmes was calm in the middle of the back four while Blair Van Waveren, in his first outing of the season, was excellent at right back. The side was buzzing through the middle and up front and applied everything to this match but the appropriate finishing.

Dima Slack and Mike Spencer combined well together, before being withdrawn ahead of the second game, while Leo Regulado, pressing in from the right, was strong in the air.

Swifts Reserves squad: Matt Aberhart; Blair Van Waveren, Daniel Holmes, Mike Collins, Chris Bedggood; Leo Regulado, Carlos Rodriguez, Luis Maldonado, Andrew Clothier; Dima Slack, Mike Spencer. Subs: Ben Vowles, Duley Nicolson, Nigel Hatfield, Marcelo Marquez.