Claudelands Rovers 3 v Matamata Swifts 0
It was a case of same story, different day for the Matamata Swifts as
they took on title-chasing Claudelands Rovers in Hamilton on Saturday.
Another defeat and another game without a goal meant another pretty bleak
afternoon for the Swifts but their major battle of the day, that of finding
eleven fit players, was, at least, won. Thank heavens for small mercies.
Surprisingly, despite all the pre-match headaches, the Swifts were competitive
with their hosts for most of the match. While they did concede a couple
of first half goals Matamata didn't seem to be out of the game at the
break. The two goals they let in were down to one major defensive lapse
and the softest of penalty decisions you are ever likely to see on a football
field. On balance Claudelands probably deserved to be leading, if only
for the weight of possession they enjoyed, but they didn't seem to be
the force they should have been in their attacking third of the field.
The Swifts best period of the match was the first twenty-five minutes
or so after half time, usually the time the team has gone off the boil
in previous matches. Matamata repeatedly forced Claudelands out of shape
as Colin Taylor and Neil Wiseman started pulling the strings in midfield.
Unfortunately all they could do was stretch their opponents when, to win
the game, Matamata needed to break them.
Not for the first time this season Matamata lacked the bite up-front to
take advantage of their solid play, although Billy Garcia looked threatening
at times, particularly with the ball at his feet. Disappointingly he ran
down too many red-shirted dead ends as the mobile Claudelands defence
did enough to snuff out anything the Swifts could muster.
Near the end Claudelands grabbed a third goal to blow the scoreline out
just a little further than what seemed justifiable. An underhit back pass
left Ian Moody, back in goal for the first time in a month, with no chance.
With so many forced changes to the team line-up from week to week the
Swifts probably can't expect to compete for the full ninety minutes against
the best teams in the league. The best they can hope for is to perform
as well as they can and, this week, they can be contented by the fact
they did that.
Man of the match for Matamata was Neil Wiseman who played his first match
in midfield for many a season.
Swifts XI 1-Ian Moody; 2-Adam Graham, 3-Pete Challis, 12-David
Mann; 14-Brett O'Hanlon, 4-Colin Taylor, 7-Neil Wiseman, 10-Ryan Carter;
9-Billy Garcia, 8-Dwayne Barlow, 15-Justin Read.
Other Results
Cambridge 1 v Ngaruawahia 5
Hamilton North 5 v Otorohanga 1
Te Awamutu 4 v Putaruru 1
Tokoroa 1 v Wanderers 2
West Hamilton 3 v Melville 0
Also result change from 19/7/03
Claudelands 2 v Cambridge 0 (originally listed as 2-2)
|
FULL
TABLE (09/08/03)
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Pts
|
|
| Claudelands |
16
|
12
|
1
|
3
|
34
|
11
|
37
|
|
| Hamilton North |
17
|
11
|
2
|
4
|
54
|
21
|
35
|
|
| Te Awamutu |
16
|
10
|
1
|
5
|
43
|
21
|
31
|
|
| West Hamilton |
13
|
10
|
1
|
2
|
31
|
11
|
31
|
|
| Cambridge |
17
|
8
|
3
|
6
|
30
|
28
|
27
|
|
| Putaruru |
16
|
7
|
1
|
8
|
39
|
53
|
22
|
|
| Wanderers |
16
|
5
|
4
|
7
|
20
|
25
|
19
|
|
| Otorohanga |
15
|
4
|
6
|
5
|
35
|
45
|
18
|
|
| Melville |
16
|
5
|
3
|
8
|
23
|
36
|
18
|
|
| Matamata |
17
|
4
|
1
|
12
|
18
|
40
|
13
|
|
| Tokoroa |
16
|
3
|
2
|
11
|
19
|
30
|
11
|
|
| Ngaruawahia |
15
|
3
|
1
|
11
|
16
|
41
|
10
|
Adam Graham prepares to launch the ball forward.