Tokoroa 1 v Matamata Swifts 3

Seven days, as they say, can be a long time in football. And one of the sport's oldest clichés proved as prophetic as ever, on Saturday, as the Matamata Swifts first team bounced back from last weeks horror showing to record their first win of the 2003 season.

A week of hard work on the training pitch, mixed with some stern words and some honest self-assessment, led to a much-improved Swift's performance. The added experience of player/coach, Dwayne Barlow, and, especially, captain Eric Van Waveren, both missing from Matamata's first two games, also helped stiffen up the Swifts on-field shape, allowing a solid base from which their team could raid forward.

Matamata also reworked their midfield, placing Gwyn Hughes, a no nonsense ball-winner, in a holding role and pushing Bevan Shelley into a more advanced position, sitting just behind centre-forward, Billy Garcia. This move proved to be the game winner, with Shelley, ably assisted by the players around him, producing a star turn when it was needed most.

The Swifts settled into their work quicker than their opponents, finding, at times, a fluency that had been missing in earlier games. They also found out, early on, that the match would be as much a physical battle as a game of skill. As is always the case in Tokoroa the home team gave no quarter, with the usual robust tackles and flying elbows ensuring Matamata didn't lose their focus.

Matamata scored two well taken first half goals, both from the right foot of Bevan Shelley, to set the victory up. They were neat, precisely worked, strikes involving all three forwards, Garcia, Adam Graham and Colin Taylor, before being finished off expertly by Shelley.

After the break the home side got themselves back into the match. Capitalising on a period of Swifts uncertainty, Tokoroa snatched what, at the time, seemed an unlikely goal. Some hesitancy at the back allowed Tokoroa's only real attacking threat in to slam the ball home.

The game then fell into a fairly predictable pattern. Tokoroa pushed forward searching for the equaliser while the Swifts soaked up the pressure and looked to counter-attack.

Just as the clock looked like running out, one final opportunity presented itself to Matamata. Adam Graham was hauled down just outside the box and Bevan Shelley stepped up to smash the ball home from the free kick, rounding out a perfect day for both himself and his team.

With their season now on track, and the winning feeling finally restored to the squad, a revitalised Matamata will look to produce the goods again next weekend against newly promoted side, North Hamilton.

Swifts XI 1-Ian Moody; 3-Scott Grooms, 13-Neil Wiseman, 14-Eric Van Waveren (c), 10-Ryan Carter; 6-Gwyn Hughes (5-Garry Ewing 65m), 8-Dwayne Barlow, 7-Bevan Shelley; 4-Colin Taylor, 9-Billy Garcia, 2-Adam Graham. Subs not used: 12-Corey Clements, 15-David Mann, 11-Justin Read.

Other Results (see www.forcethree.com) Cambridge 2 v Claudelands 1, Hamilton North 2 v Melville 3, Ngaruawahia 0 v Te Awamutu 4, Putaruru 2 v Otorohanga 3, West Hamilton 3 v Wanderers 0.

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