[ Back ]

Claudelands 0 v Matamata Swifts 1
Saturday July 27, 2002
Waikato 1st Division

The Matamata Swifts superb recent form continued on Saturday with another road victory, this time in Hamilton against Claudelands Rovers. The victory was revenge for the massive defeat Claudelands had inflicted on a below strength Swifts side earlier in the season and the three points gained lifted Matamata above their opponents in the league table.

The match proved to be a game of few chances. Claudelands had the greater weight of possession, but seemed content to knock the ball around in the middle of the pitch. Any attack they did muster broke down on the rugged Swifts rearguard, with their best chances only coming from set pieces. The Swifts, on the other hand, were content to soak up the pressure and launch a number of counter-attacks.

It looked like Matamata would open the scoring before the break from two of these moves but, on both occasions, the final Claudelands defender chopped down the Swifts attacker. Free kicks were awarded for both offences, but the Claudelands defender, the same player on both occasions, escaped with only a single booking. Under the laws of the game, both offences merited an automatic red card but the referee obviously felt differently. Fired up by this minor controversy, the Swifts redoubled their efforts, and determined they wouldn't let the home team off the hook as the official had.

After the break the match descended into a midfield scrap. Claudelands still edged possession but, when move after move faltered more than 30-yards from the Swifts goal, they failed to alter their mode of attack. The Swifts continued to probe forward and, when the goal finally came, it came from a classic counter-attack. Jamie Cox found himself on the end of the move and bundled the ball home at the second attempt after the Claudelands goalie made a mess of saving his first attempt.

The final quarter-hour didn't provide too many scares for Matamata as they held on for their fourth consecutive win away from home. Claudelands had a couple of half chances from corners, while Swifts goalie, Ian Moody, got down well to his right to save a long distance effort.

In truth, Claudelands got what they deserved from their one-dimensional approach. It was a disappointing effort from the only side to beat league leaders, Cambridge, but none of the Swifts players or management will be complaining.

The Matamata Hotel player of the day for the Swifts was goalie, Ian Moody, who, while not called on to do too much, came up with the goods when required to do so.

Other Results:
Melville 1 v Ngaruawahia 3, Te Awamutu 3 v Cambridge 3,
Wanderers 3 v Tokoroa 2, West Hamilton 0 v Unicol 3.

Matamata Swifts Season Stats

Full Table (as at July 27):