Matamata Swifts 0 v Claudelands 1
Matamata Swifts suffered the narrowest of defeats in the first of four
consecutive home games, on Saturday, losing a nail-biter to Claudelands
Rovers, one of the more polished teams in the Waikato Premier division.
It was a match in which both teams displayed plenty of endeavour but created
few clear-cut chances, with the bulk of the best work confined to the
middle of the pitch. Matamata, entering the match on the back of last
weeks confidence building performance, started strongly and, perhaps,
even shaded the first half. The Swifts seem to have, by and large, sorted
out most of the defensive frailties that haunted some of their earlier
performances this season and now must look to build some more sharpness
into their attacking play.
In fact it was their lack of decisiveness in the attacking third of the
field that ultimately led to defeat in this match, with most of the Swifts'
better attacking moves breaking down due to some poor option taking. Matamata's
attacks were repeatedly snuffed out as they frustratingly dwelt on the
ball for too long and played more than their share of low percentage passes.
It was from one of these attacking movements that the visitors grabbed
the only goal of the game. With Matamata hot on attack, Claudelands caught
them on the break. A couple of quick passes set the Claudelands striker
on his way and, despite the desperate efforts of Gwyn Hughes and Neil
Wiseman to get back and help Swifts keeper Ian Moody, he took his chance
clinically.
The Swifts didn't rise to quite the same heights during the second half,
but did have a gilt edged chance to take something from the match. With
more than half an hour to go Matamata was awarded a penalty when Adam
Graham was bundled over just inside the area. Bevan Shelley stepped up
and went for power, rather than placement, with his shot. Unfortunately
the Claudelands keeper held his ground and saved the shot.
Less than ten minutes later the Swifts fate seemed to be sealed when they
were reduced to ten men, but this only served to up their efforts. The
visitors had a little more space to work in but only threatened sporadically
while at the other end of the field Matamata huffed and puffed but, in
all honesty, didn't really look like grabbing something from the match.
While another home defeat may not be the greatest of results, it was the
Swifts performance that lends some hope for future matches. They are 90
per cent of the way to becoming a good team at this level and, once a
few more of the rough edges are knocked off their game, they'll become
a difficult side to beat.
Player of the day for Matamata was goalie, Ian Moody.
Swifts XI 1-Ian Moody; 14-Eric Van Waveren, 5-Neil Wiseman, 6-Gwyn
Hughes; 10-Ryan Carter (3-Scott Grooms 65m), 4-Colin Taylor, 8-Dwayne
Barlow, 7-Bevan Shelley, 12-Garry Ewing (11-Aidan Miller 65m); 9-Billy
Garcia, 2-Adam Graham.
Subs not used: 12-David Mann
Other Results
Melville pp v West Hamilton pp
Ngaruawahia 0 v Cambridge 4
Otorohanga 3 v Hamilton North 3
Putaruru 1 v Te Awamutu 0
Wanderers 1 v Tokoroa 0
|
FULL
TABLE (24/05/03)
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Pts
|
|
| Te Awamutu |
5
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
19
|
3
|
12
|
|
| Putaruru |
5
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
13
|
9
|
12
|
|
| Hamilton North |
6
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
16
|
7
|
11
|
|
| Claudelands |
5
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
8
|
4
|
9
|
|
| Melville |
5
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
8
|
13
|
9
|
|
| Cambridge |
6
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
9
|
7
|
8
|
|
| West Hamilton |
4
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
12
|
8
|
7
|
|
| Otorohanga |
5
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
13
|
15
|
6
|
|
| Wanderers |
5
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
7
|
5
|
|
| Matamata |
6
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
16
|
4
|
|
| Tokoroa |
5
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
7
|
11
|
3
|
|
| Ngaruawahia |
5
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
18
|
1
|
