Matamata Swifts have been defeated 1-0 by Whakatane Town at the Matamata Domain. It was, however, a game the Swifts should have won, learning yet again the harsh lesson that despite a decent performance you have to put away your chances. Such is the way with football.

The first half was dominated by the Swifts, and the referee’s whistle, as the physical approach of both teams to the game regularly breached the rules of the game. Swift, Andre Freitas, was the first player to receive a yellow card, even though any number of visiting players should already have been in the book.

The Swifts were disappointed to go into the break scoreless having created a number of good chances which they failed to convert into a lead. Ged Parkinson and Andre Freitas, both twice, Gareth Clark and Flavio Santis all missed gilt edged opportunities.

After the break it was more of the same. The Swifts poor finishing and option taking kept the visitors in the game and with the hope of stealing all three valuable points. Such was the Swifts' dominance that Whakatane had one player booked for time wasting more than twenty minutes from the end.

Whakatane’s chance came late in the game when a goalmouth scramble and a strong challenge from Andrew Taylor, a player who had not put a foot wrong all day, resulted in a penalty being awarded. It was, in all probability, something a more experienced ref could have brushed aside.

The penalty was convincingly dispatched, leaving the Swifts only few minutes to find an equalising goal. They came close when man of the match Leo Pardini struck a volley that cannoned into the outside of the net.

Entering the game leading the Federation League the Swifts will desperately be trying to correct their current two match losing streak. Things won’t be any easier as they face 2nd placed Rotorua at the Rotorua International Stadium next up.