Wanderers 4 v Matamata Swifts 1

Matamata Swifts completed their 2003 season with a spirited, but ultimately fruitless, performance away to a tidy Hamilton Wanderers side. Many of the failings that have haunted this Matamata side all season were evident once again during this match but so was some of the good stuff as the Swifts carved out some excellent chances throughout the match.

The first half-hour of the match was the most evenly contested period as both sides settled into their work. Clear-cut chances were at a premium although Billy Garcia and Bevan Shelley looked threatening down the Matamata right. At the other end of the field the Swifts were able to scramble away most of what their opponents had to offer.

A little over ten minutes before the break the match took a dramatic turn. Matamata midfielder Neil Wiseman rolled his ankle, ending his participation in the match, and in the ensuing confusion Wanderers netted the opening goal of the game. As the Swifts struggled to reorganise, and before they could get a substitute on to the field, Wanderers got the ball into the Matamata box and bundled it home from close range.

To make matters worse Wanderers grabbed a second goal just before the interval. One of their strikers got in between two Swift's defenders and tucked a neat header inside the far post.

The second half was almost a mirror image of the first, with the only difference being that Matamata got the ball in the back of the net themselves. Just after the hour mark Swifts man of the match, Joe Alves, tucked home his third goal in four starts from an excellent Bevan Shelley cross. Less than five minutes later Justin Read slotted home what should have been Matamata's equaliser only to have it ruled out for off-side. It was a harsh decision but was an example of the way things have gone for the Swifts throughout the season.

Wanderers netted their final two goals during the last ten minutes as the Swifts began to run out of legs. It was a depressingly familiar scenario.

As a footnote, this week's referee was excellent. It's amazing the difference when a match is controlled by someone who has actually played the game and has an affinity for the players.

Swifts XI 1-Ian Moody; 2-Adam Graham, 14-Dave Mann, 5-Pete Challis; 7-Bevan Shelley, 4-Colin Taylor, 6-Neil Wiseman (8-Dwayne Barlow 35m), 10-Ryan Carter; 15-Justin Read (16-Floyd Emson), 9-Billy Garcia, 13-Joe Alves.

Other Results
Otorohanga 0 v Ngaruawahia 1
Putaruru (default) 0 v Melville 2
Te Awamutu 0 v Claudelands 2
Tokoroa 1 v Cambridge 2
West Hamilton 6 v Hamilton North 0

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