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Matamata Swifts have scored an important away victory over the well-performed Rotorua United side. The match was an intriguing battle between two well matched yet contrasting football teams. The Swifts' more cultured approach won the day this time, but it was a close run thing.
 The Swifts started the stronger and were a goal ahead within fifteen minutes. Andre Freitas bashed the ball in from close range after he was played in by Duncan Lowry. Matamata should have been two ahead soon after. Freitas, in his best game for Matamata, got in behind the defence and was hauled down in the box. Ged Parkinson strode up and banged the penalty against the upright. The ball canoned across the goal and away.
Matamata should have been in control at the break as, along with the penalty miss, Freitas, Flavio Santis and Andrew Taylor all had excellent chances to score. The football was good for, stretching Rotorua across the park, but the finishing touch wasn't quite there.
Rotorua were level not long before the break. A wicked cross was deflected into the Swifts net by the unlucky Parkinson. The Swifts were somewhat unlucky with this goal as the Rotorua player who played the cross in recieved the ball from a throw in by a team mate who had a foot inside the field of play. The linesman chose to allow this.
So it was level at half time, but there wasn't much panic in the Swifts changing room.
The second half was a far more even contest. Rotorua threatened a little more with their direct style of play bringing Swifts keeper, Gary Darkes, into the game. Darkes pulled off three memorable saves during the second half. Twice he dove bravely at the feet of Rotorua attackers and once, late on, he got acrobaticly across to claw away a shot that seemed destined for the top corner.
It was the Swifts who went ahead again, however. Leo Pardini, who is turning into the signing of the season for Matamata, rose high and nutted home a great header. His celebration was almost as spectacular as the goal.
Rotorua were level for a second time from a stunning strike with little more than ten minutes of regulation time left, but their lead didn't last long. Pardini found an opening in midfield and threaded a superb ball to Redoubt man on the match Andre Freitas who gathered it in and, without breaking stride, swiped the ball in between the keeper's legs.
The Swifts survived seven minutes of added time before the final whistle brought forth a surge of emotion. After last week's slip-up it was important to get back on the winning trail, particularly against one of the strongest teams in the league. Much credit must also go to referee, Neil McCready, who was sensible in his handling of this important fixture.
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