[ Back ]

Melville 4 v Matamata Swifts 1
Saturday June 1, 2002
Waikato 1st Division

Another poor second half performance by the Matamata Swifts football team condemned them to defeat against Melville United in their Waikato 1st division fixture on Saturday. Once again, when it mattered, the Swifts proved to be a soft touch defensively, gifting Melville goal scoring opportunities in the most absurd manner and allowing them to run away with the game after the break.

But it could, and should, have been so different. Matamata, although still without a couple of key players, were able to field a reasonably experienced line-up. And, for the first 45-minutes, this experience led to a lively performance.

Matamata was solid at the back, well led by the new central defensive pairing of Adam Graham and David Mann. At the other end of the pitch the Swifts looked threatening. Colin Taylor, getting forward from left-back, had an early chance to settle his team's nerves, but he shot wide after the best passing movement of the match. Thirty minutes in, however, Matamata did manage to take the lead. Jamie Cox capitalised on a defensive blunder, shooting home into an empty net.

What should have been a sign of things to come, instead turned out being the high point of the game for the Swifts. Leading into half time Melville clawed themselves back into a match they had been out of for long periods. They fired a few warning shots and the Swifts, unfortunately, didn't take heed.

The second half belonged to the home side. Melville's energy increased as the Swifts decided they had done enough for the day and mentally packed up and went home. The Swifts became a shambles and paid dearly for it as Melville fired home four goals and could really have had more.

Matamata had the odd foray forward with Corey Clements, down the left, making a couple penetrating runs. In truth, though, the Swifts didn't really look like scoring in the second half.

Matamata goes into their next match against old rivals, Te Awamutu, searching for some self-belief. The Swifts coaching staff will be hoping the unique pressure of this traditional derby lifts their players to, at least, an acceptable level of performance.

Other Results:
Te Awamutu 3 v Ngaruawahia 1, Unicol 2 v Claudelands 2,
Wanderers 1 v Cambridge 4, West Ham 3 v Tokoroa 0.

Full Table (as at June 1):