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Matamata Swifts 3 v Tokoroa 1
Saturday May 4, 2002
Waikato 1st Division

Ten minutes of magic near the end of the match were enough to ensure Matamata got its Waikato 1st Division season rolling against Tokoroa.

A stunning opening goal from Bevan Shelley, less than fifteen minutes from the end, set the Swifts on the way to their first victory of the season. Shelley smacked the ball home from outside the area to open his account for the season and bring the Swifts level after Tokoroa had earlier taken the lead. The contest was finished off with an instinctive double strike from David Hyslop.

Earlier on, however, a Matamata victory had seemed less than likely. The Swifts controlled vast portions of the game but were let down by some erratic passing and poor finishing. In fact, the first half was an exercise in frustration for the home side as they failed to take advantage of favourable conditions and superior possession. Matamata struggled to break down a resolute Tokoroa rearguard and had to go into the break with the scores level.

Immediately after half time the game took its first twist. Tokoroa scored following some classic route one football. A long ball out of defense was latched onto by the visitors' striker, who calmly side-footed the ball home to give his side an unlikely lead. Tokoroa were probably unlucky not to score a second midway through the second half when they hit the upright and the ball rebounded across the face of goal.

Twenty minutes from the end the game changed. Matamata introduced sixteen-year-old Corey Clements for his debut and his composure was a revelation. Almost immediately Matamata looked a better team and it was no real surprise when they finally got on the scoresheet courtesy of Shelley's wonder goal.

Less than a minute later, with the visitors in disarray at the back, the Swifts took the lead. Hyslop tucked the ball home after Matamata's initial shot had rebounded to him from the crossbar. Hyslop completed the Swifts ten-minute goalscoring blitz with his second, calmly slotting the ball home past an advancing keeper.

Matamata's player of the day was midfielder Bevan Shelley whose workrate and scoring power made him the best player on the pitch.

Other Results:

Claudelands 4 v Wanderers 2, Melville 2 v Unicol 1,
Ngaruawahia 1 v Cambridge 3, Te Awamutu 3 v West Ham 1.

Full Table (as at May 4):