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Matamata Swifts trundled to their fifth consecutive win in wet and woolly conditions at Otorohanga. A Ged Parkinson penalty early in the second half was the difference between the two sides in the end, which makes this game look like a close one, but the score reflects very little of the way this match actually ebbed and flowed.
The Swifts really should have had half a dozen goals before the break, such was the manner in which their football, at times, carved up the home side. This was even more satisfying given the amount of water that has fallen on the Waikato this week and the length of the grass on the Otorohanga Domain.
 The Matamata coaching staff expected a typical Otorohanga kick-and-chase onslaught in conditions tailor made for the home side. Apart from a couple of early forays, however, the Swifts defence and midfield kept the home side's willing runners well contained.
Matamata could bemoan a lack of composure in front of goal, which led to three one-on-ones being pushed wide, but also paid full respect to a home keeper in outstanding form, including a full length save to push a Daniel Frischknecht drive onto his upright, and some desperate Otorohanga defending that saw two Swifts' shots scrambled off the line. It was one way traffic but the ball just wouldn't go in the net.
The deadlock was broken just after the break when an Otorohanga defender was unlucky enough to see the ball rear up and strike his arm in the box. Ged Parkinson stroked the ball home even though the home keeper, desperate not to be kept out of the game, got a finger tip to the ball.
Soon after Leo Pardini had the ball in the net but it was curiously ruled out for off-side. An unmarked Pardini appeared to head the ball home from a Duncan Lowry header that went across the goal box, not forward, to Pardini. Frischknecht also had another drive from distance well saved.
The last couple of minutes were interesting for the Swifts as Otorohanga finally broke out and threw everything at them. Matamata gave away a couple of poor free kicks ten yards outside the box but they were wasted by the home side. Swifts keeper, Gary Darkes, was strong on the few occasions he was called upon.
With title rivals Taupo being held to a draw this win ended up being a huge one for Matamata. The Swifts now have a three point gap at the top of the table. Redoubt man of the match for Matamata was Andre Freitas, who ran himself into the ground up front and, on another day, could have had a first half hat trick.
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