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Matamata Swifts exhibited another side of their game to come away from Te Awamutu with a gutsy 2-0 victory. The Swifts are normally a good footballing side but were forced to grind out a result on an horrific playing surface tailor made for keeping the home side in games.
 The Swifts made all the running in the first half, having 14 shots on target, several of which forced Te Awamutu keeper, Kevin Buckle, into excellent saves. Andre Freitas was twice denied while his strike partner, Gareth Clark, also went close.
After the break it was more of the same. Freitas again went close, as did Leo Pardini. Andrew Jordan, through on goal and in his shooting motion, was denied by a superb last ditch tackle that cost TA player/coach, Tim Ball, a game ending injury.
The opening goal took a while in coming but it duly arrived midway through the half. Jason Collins, having joined the fray only seconds before replacing a limping Daniel Frischknecht, bundled a free kick in off the underside of the cross bar. It was a messy, yet vital, goal that set the Swifts on their way to a win in a messy game.
Collins brought some form of respectability to the score line with a second goal in stoppage time. He was played in by a glorious square ball from a Te Awamutu defender and made no mistake with only the keeper to beat.
The Swifts back four did a solid job in trying conditions while keeper, Gary Darkes, barely had a save to make all game. The concentration levels of the defence was excellent, knowing that one mistake could likely cost a goal. On such a pitch, and with the wind swirling, it would have been fairly easy to make that mistake, particularly with the home side's most impressive player, Jordan Ball, buzzing around.
Missing a clutch of regular starters, including Alberto Romero, Carlos Rodriguez and Flavio Santis, the Swifts put in a good effort and were well worth the win, having created all the play. Andrew Jordan, the Redoubt man of the match, and Gareth Clark both shone in their first starts of the season, while Leo Pardini was again excellent.
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