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Peter Vossen Builders Matamata Swifts have been held to a draw at home by Takapuna AFC in one of the biggest games in the club’s history. A win by either side would have seen them move clear of the relegation play-offs, but the match turned into a nail-biting stalemate.
After a slow start, during which time Tom Pamment was called into an early one on one save, the Swifts settled and started to gain some joy by attacking the Takapuna full backs. From one such raid Stu Watene burst forward and whipped in a great cross that was blasted over the cross bar by  Mark Knell. This miss was to prove costly as only moments later, and still only ten minutes in, the visitors were awarded a rather soft penalty when the ball reared up into Grant Cooper’s arm. It was duly converted.
The first half was one of full of missed opportunities as Matamata took charge. Chances were created and went begging. A Stu Watene drive was knocked down by the arm of a Takapuna defender. The penalty shouts were waved away, which was a bit harsh given the decision moments earlier at the other end.
Watene was a menace down the left, torturing his opposite number and delivering several decent crosses which were either headed over or poked away by the desperate Takapuna defence. Jon Allen drove the Swifts forward from midfield, while the back four dealt with the visitors’ counter attacks comfortably enough.
The visitors were also lucky to see their keeper stay on the field when he appeared to grab hold of the ball outside the box and drag it to his chest while back-peddling to safety. It was a big moment in the match because a deliberate hand ball decision would have seen him red carded and the complex of the match would have changed.
After the break things evened out. Takapuna, with recent All White Jeff Campbell pulling the strings to telling effect, looked a little more dangerous going forward, although it was the Swifts who were more constructive when in possession.
The much needed equaliser game in the 65th minute and it was worth the wait. Tim Miller turned his marker on the edge of the box and rifled the ball just inside the upright. It was a classic Miller strike and set the match up for a grand stand final quarter.
Both sides were desperate for victory and this led to some classic end to end football. The visitors pressed and probed with more intent, stretching the Swifts back four repeatedly. Thankfully Matamata held firm. At the other end, Miller, Watene, Allen, Mike Beard and Pete Shannon did all they could to eke out a winner.
In the end the teams couldn’t be separated and neither is safe yet from the Division 1/Division 2 end of season play-offs. Matamata travels to Auckland to play Eastern Suburbs next Saturday. It’s a massive game for a Swifts side needing points.
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