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Ngaruawahia 2 v Matamata Swifts 4
Saturday July 20, 2002
Waikato 1st Division

The Matamata Swifts 1st team ran out convincing victors against Ngaruawahia United in a battle of two teams with contrasting styles of play. In the windy conditions, Matamata's swift counter-attacking approach proved to be more than a handful for the home side's physical route-one method.

Matamata played the first 30-minutes to perfection. During this period they ripped their opponents to shreds, racing out to what seemed at the time like an unassailable three-goal lead. Jamie Cox opened the scoring early on after finding himself on the end of a well-placed Adam Graham pass. His deft finish left the 'keeper stranded.

Graham got himself on the scoresheet soon after. Another excellent final pass, this time from Dwayne Barlow, left Graham with the simple task of rolling the ball under the advancing 'keeper. Matamata's third goal was a bit of a gift, but they took it regardless. Ngaruawahia's 'keeper, now short on confidence, spilled a Bevan Shelley free kick into the path of top-scorer, David Hyslop who slammed the ball into an empty net.

The tide of the match turned quite markedly near the end of the first half. Matamata had another perfectly legitimate Adam Graham goal ruled out, before the home team hauled themselves back into the match. Two well-taken goals within a couple of minutes of each other changed the complection of the game, giving the Swifts something serious to think about at the break.

The second half was a complete contrast to the first half goalfest as both teams settled in for a dour battle. Ngaruawahia, with the wind at their backs, continued to pump long balls into the Matamata penalty area, but this tactic proved to be as fruitless as it had earlier in the match. The Swifts soaked up the pressure and countered with a number of forays deep into enemy territory.

The Swifts always looked the more likely team to score again and, after having a couple of good penalty shouts turned down and another legitimate goal ruled out for off-side, managed to finish the match off with only a few minutes to go. Jamie Cox grabbed his second goal of the match, smashing the ball past the stranded Ngaruawahia 'keeper in another one-on-one situation. Cox's goal was a fitting end to a match in which the Swifts players came off battered and bruised, but remained unbowed.

The Matamata Hotel player of the day for the Swifts was midfield dynamo, Garry Ewing.

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

Full Table (as at July 20):