Matamata Swifts 0 v Hamilton North 5
Matamata Swifts went from the sublime to the ridiculous in the course
of a week as a poor defensive display led to a second, big, home defeat
of the season. Up against a keen and eager, newly promoted Hamilton North
side the Swifts put in a reasonable performance, but lost concentration
at the back at too many crucial moments.
Things started badly for Matamata as the visitors scored direct from a
corner within the first ten minutes. It was a totally avoidable goal,
down to an individual error, and set the scene for a poor day for the
Swifts in front of their own goal.
Before things turned to custard, however, it looked as though the game
might finish so differently. The first half was an even affair with Matamata
probably shading the visitors in terms of chances created. Hamilton North,
to their credit, attempted to knock the ball around and retain possession
although, for a while, this looked like it could be their downfall. On
a damp surface they repeatedly gifted the ball to the Swifts, sometimes
almost suicidely, but Matamata were not clinical enough to take advantage
of their opportunities.
Just as the game looked like heading into half time in the balance, Matamata
let in another sloppy goal, a strike that proved to be a hammer blow.
Three Swifts' defenders had the opportunity to clear an unthreatening
cross but none of them took the responsibility of actually doing it, and
let one of the visiting strikers in for the easiest of goals.
And then it got worse. The third goal came soon after the break and was
followed by two more, including a penalty, just to ensure this would be
another miserable day at the Domain for Matamata.
To be fair, at least some of the Swifts players kept going for the full
90 minutes, but too many of them decided to stray from the game plan.
When that happens, and simple instructions are ignored, bad things happen,
and the Swifts have found this out twice already this season. Too many
more performances like this will ensure this turns into a very, very long
season indeed for Matamata.
Player of the day for Matamata was substitute, David Mann.
Swifts XI 1-Ian Moody; 3-Scott Grooms (15-David Mann 75m), 2-Neil
Wiseman, 14-Eric Van Waveren (c), 9-Ryan Carter; 6-Gwyn Hughes, 8-Dwayne
Barlow, 7-Bevan Shelley; 4-Colin Taylor, 11-Billy Garcia, 10-Adam Graham.
Other Results
Melville 1 v Cambridge 0
Claudelands v West Hamilton pp (Chatham Cup)
Ngaruawahia v Tokoroa pp (Chatham Cup)
Otorohanga v Te Awamutu pp (Chatham Cup)
Wanderers v Putaruru pp (Chatham Cup)
|
FULL
TABLE (10/05/03)
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Pts
|
|
| Te Awamutu |
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
18
|
2
|
9
|
|
| Melville |
4
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
8
|
11
|
9
|
|
| West Hamilton |
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
10
|
5
|
7
|
|
| Hamilton North |
4
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
4
|
7
|
|
| Putaruru |
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
9
|
7
|
6
|
|
| Otorohanga |
3
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
9
|
8
|
5
|
|
| Cambridge |
4
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
4
|
|
| Claudelands |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
|
| Matamata |
4
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
4
|
14
|
3
|
|
| Wanderers |
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
2
|
|
| Ngaruawahia |
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
10
|
1
|
|
| Tokoroa |
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
9
|
0
|
