Matamata Swifts completed their pre-season preparations with a good victory, coupled with some good football, on the superb Stembridge Road surface. The team scored all their goals in teh first half, with wide man, Neil Slater, seeming to get on the end of everything. Slater scored four times, with his hat trick coming from the head, the right foot and the left foot. He rounded out his scoring glut with a good left footed drive.

Mark Knell poked the ball home from close range for the Swifts second goal, following good lead up work from Tim Miller, and Mike Spencer volleyed home the goal of the game not long before the break.

The second half was lacking goals, but was a good footballing run for the side as they kept their standards high. The hosts basically gave up the attacking half of the field, concentraing on keeping their defensive shape and upping their work rate. They did this well and, while the Swifts finishing wasn't quite as clinical as it had been earlier, Ngongotaha deserved their second half clean sheet.

Matamata coach, Duncan Lowry, used the match to look a few things. Jack McKenna had a run at right back and looked right at home, while young Jamie Baxter came in on the left and did well. Trialist, Mark Habbs, had his first outing for the Swifts and looked quality in the middle of the park.

Swifts Squad: Tom Pamment, Jack McKenna, Grant Cooper, Ged Parkinson, Jamie Baxter, Neil Slater, Alberto Romero, Mark Habbs, Mike Spencer, Tim Miller, Mark Knell, Jon Allen, Andy Birchenough, Duncan Lowry.

Above As a Sunderland fan we had to let Ged have just a little bit of red and white. Only for this match, mind...


Above Neil Slater grabbed the headlines with four goals.


Above Mark Habbs dinks the ball into the box.

Above Jack McKenna holds his man at bay.


Above Who's the most knackered? I'm guessing it's you Matty...


Above The orange wall.


Above It's Coops and mini-Coops.


Above Mark Habbs wins the ball under the watchful eye of Tim Miller.


Above Birchy pulls out an old tango move.


(Photos by: Dwayne Barlow)