[ Back ]

Matamata Swifts 0 v West Hamilton 3

Saturday April 20, 2002
Waikato 1st Division

Matamata Swifts' will have to seriously consider renaming themselves the Matamata Kingz, as their first home game of the 2002 season turned into a nightmare. They were turned over 3-0 by a West Hamilton team they should really have got a result against.

Matamata built on last week's season opener, stepping up a level in the opening period of this match to dominate proceedings against a surprisingly subdued West Hamilton outfit. During the first half the Swifts had countless goal scoring opportunities. Matamata winger, David Hyslop, hit the woodwork early on, while Garry Ewing was particularly unlucky to see a goal bound header cleared off the line. On most other days, it would have ruffled the back of the net.

The Swift's strike force of Jamie Cox and Adam Graham looked particularly threatening, but both were denied goals through scrambling West Hamilton defense and some sheer bad luck.

Of course, when things don't run well for you in the attacking third the pressure goes on at the back, and so it proved in this particular match. During the later period of the first half the Swifts rearguard, which looked so solid last week, made two basic technical errors, costing the side two goals. And so, at the interval, the Swifts went in 2-0 down when, on most other days, they would have been leading.

The second half was a more even affair as the game opened up completely. The Swifts pressed forward searching for that elusive goal, while the visitors, buoyed by their two goal lead, knocked the ball around confidently and looked the more likely of the two teams to grab a goal. Matamata's best chance of the second half game via the head of John Van Gog. His well-placed header, from a free kick, looked goal-bound until West Hamilton's giant goalie, at full stretch, got a hand to the ball and tipped it over the bar.

The scoring was completed by the visitors, late on, when they got in behind a stretched Matamata defense and scrambled the ball home at the far post.

The Swifts' player of the day was veteran midfielder, John Van Gog, who showed the sort of desire and application required at this level.

Other Results:

Cambridge 7 v Tokoroa 0, Claudelands 0 v Te Awamutu 3,
Melville 0 v Wanderers 2, Ngaruawahia 2 v Unicol 1.

Full Table: