Putaruru Rangers 2 v Matamata Swifts 1

An injury-riddled Matamata Swifts 1st team slumped to a customary opening-day defeat on Saturday, losing 2-1 at near neighbours, Putaruru. In a typical, 'game-of-two-halves', the Swifts started slowly, but came home strong and should really have taken something from the match. Despite losing, the Swifts came out of the match with a fair degree of credit. In trying conditions, and with a reshuffled line-up, the team got better as the game went on, providing positive signs for the remainder of the season.

The early stages of the match belonged to the home side. Putaruru looked more enthusiastic than the visitors, probing forward at regular intervals. It took all the experience of Neil Wiseman, returning as sweeper after a season out of the game, to hold things together for his side.

Just as the major threat seemed to have passed, and play was evening out, Putaruru struck with two goals in two minutes. Both goals were avoidable - the Swifts midfield and defence sitting off their opponents, allowing them to raid deep into Matamata territory. The results were inevitable. It could have been even worse had Swifts goalie, Ian Moody, not finger-tipped a subsequent shot onto his left-hand upright.

Despite this five-minute period of madness, the Swifts never looked out of the game. Their best chance of the first half came right on the stroke of half time, when Bevan Shelley's thunderous shot from 15 yards was touched over the cross bar by a relieved Putaruru goalie.

After the break Matamata was the better side, but only managed to reap one goal as reward for all the opportunities they created. Against visibly tiring opponents, the Swifts were too impatient when cool heads should have been the order of the day. Chance after chance went begging, although Matamata did, at least, get themselves on the score sheet. Adam Graham smashed the ball home from inside the six-yard box to open his account for the season.

With no game over the Easter break Matamata has two weeks to iron out some of the deficiencies highlighted during this match, as well as get their injury problems under control, before their first home game against Te Awamutu.

The Swifts man of the match was teenage left-back, Ryan Carter. Carter, in his senior debut, was at home in a previously unfamiliar position and looks to have a promising future in the game.

Goalscorer for Matamata Adam Graham.

Swifts XI 1-Ian Moody; 3-Scott Grooms, 6-Neil Wiseman, 12-David Mann, 10-Ryan Carter; 11-Geoff van der Molen (15-Gwyn Hughes, 46min), 5-Garry Ewing, 8-Dwayne Barlow (14-Frank Mohacsy, 15 min), 4-Colin Taylor; 7-Bevan Shelley, 2-Adam Graham.

Other Results Hamilton North 1 v Cambridge 1, Melville 2 v Te Awamutu 8, Tokoroa 1 v Claudelands 4, Wanderers 1 v Ngaruawahia 1, West Hamilton 4 v Otorohanga 4.

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