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Matamata
Swifts 2 v Ngaruawahia 1
Saturday
May 18, 2002
Waikato 1st Division
Two goals in two minutes midway through the first half helped Matamata
Swifts to a second consecutive home victory in a rugged encounter with
Ngaruawahia on Saturday. A rejigged Swifts side showed the sort of spirit
and tenacity required at this level and, allied with increased tactical
awareness and a little bit of skill, were rewarded with a vital victory
against a team in a similar position on the table.
The foundation for Matamata's win was a significant improvement in the
defensive aspects of their game. The back four were solid and proved difficult
to break down while goalie, Mark Gread, was excellent on debut. The Swifts
midfield and strikers fed off this, tackling and harrying their opponents
in all areas of the pitch, making it difficult for Ngaruawahia to even
create a few goal scoring opportunities.
And so to the goals. The first came 25 minutes into the match, after Matamata
had been awarded a free kick twenty metres from goal. Sweeper, Bevan Shelley,
stepped up and hammered the ball into the top corner to give the Swifts
the lead. Almost immediately, Matamata doubled their lead to blow open
a game that had, until that stage, been balanced on a knife edge. Adam
Graham deftly lifted the ball over Ngaruawahia's keeper to score his first
of the season and raise the spirits of his team mates even higher.
After the half time break the visitors threw everything they could at
the Matamata. The Swifts wobbled a couple of times and buckled once, letting
Ngaruawahia in to score, but did enough to hold on for the win.
Tribute must be paid to the Swifts experienced central midfield duo of
John Van Gog and Garry Ewing. Their tireless grafting in the engine room
belied their advancing years and allowed their more youthful team mates
to cause damage in the right areas of the pitch.
Matamata's next game is at home to Claudelands Rovers and is another must-win
encounter for both teams. On this performance, Matamata will prove difficult
to beat.
Other Results:
Claudelands 2 v West Hamilton 1, Melville 2 v Cambridge 2,
Te Awamutu 0 v Tokoroa 3, Wanderers 3 v Unicol 2.
Full Table (as at May 18):
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Pts
|
|
| Cambridge |
6
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
28
|
7
|
16
|
| Te Awamutu |
6
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
13
|
6
|
12
|
| Wanderers |
6
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
11
|
11
|
12
|
| Claudelands |
6
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
12
|
14
|
9
|
| Melville |
6
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
7
|
9
|
8
|
| Ngaruawahia |
5
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
9
|
9
|
7
|
| Unicol |
6
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
10
|
14
|
6
|
| Matamata |
6
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
9
|
19
|
6
|
| West Ham |
5
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
7
|
8
|
4
|
| Tokoroa |
6
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
6
|
15
|
4
|
Bevan Shelley makes a break for it against Ngaruawahia (May 18, 2002)