Matamata Swifts 0 v Claudelands Rovers 2
Matamata Swifts provided a stern test for the title seeking Claudelands
Rovers side when they met at the Domain. Victory secured the Waikato Premier
league crown for the visitors, but the Swifts, also desperate for points,
did all they could to make them wait another week.
The supreme confidence gained through winning twelve of their previous
thirteen matches was the difference for Rovers in an evenly contested
match. Matamata slightly shaded the opening half-hour and could have gone
ahead through a Bevan Shelley free kick. The Claudelands keeper did well
to get down to his right and smother Shelley's goal bound shot. David
Hyslop also went close during this period with a rasping shot from distance.
The fifteen minute period before the break saw Claudelands edge ahead
as they scored two goals in quick succession. The first came from the
penalty spot while the second, decisive, goal saw the ball bounce home
through a crowded penalty area. It was rough on the Swifts to go into
half time two goals down but sometimes football's just like that.
After the break, the patched up Swifts side buckled and, at times, was
fully stretched but did well not to fold up completely. They threatened
sporadically, but found it difficult to break down a well-organised Rovers
rearguard. The defense, led by Grant Laidlaw, Colin Taylor and, belatedly,
Bevan Shelley, did what was necessary to limit any further damage, foiling
their opponents twice late on from adding to their lead.
Matamata AFC congratulates Claudelands Rovers on their dominating season.
Well done guys, you are worthy winners of the Waikato Premier league.
Swifts squad 1-Dave Taylor; 3-Emerson Fuchs (4-Colin Taylor 45m),
8-Dwayne Barlow, 2-Grant Laidlaw, 11-Steve Beattie; 13-Marcelo Marquez
(12-Daniel Compodonico 65m), 9-David Hyslop, 14-John Van Gog (c) (10-Joe
Alves 65m), 5-Jamie Cox; 7-Bevan Shelley, 6-Jason Collins.
Other results
Ngaruawahia 1 v Cambridge 1
Putaruru 2 v Hamilton North 1
Wanderers 1 v Tokoroa 3
West Hamilton (Bye).
|
Full
Table (31/7/04)
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
Pts
|
|
|
1
|
Claudelands
|
14
|
13
|
0
|
1
|
57
|
8
|
39
|
|
2
|
Cambridge
|
13
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
32
|
17
|
26
|
|
3
|
Ngaruawahia
|
14
|
7
|
3
|
4
|
40
|
23
|
24
|
|
4
|
Wanderers
|
14
|
8
|
0
|
6
|
33
|
22
|
24
|
|
5
|
Matamata
|
14
|
7
|
0
|
7
|
36
|
21
|
21
|
|
6
|
Putaruru
|
14
|
6
|
1
|
7
|
23
|
33
|
19
|
|
7
|
Tokoroa
|
14
|
5
|
1
|
8
|
18
|
22
|
16
|
|
8
|
West
Hamilton
|
14
|
2
|
2
|
10
|
11
|
53
|
8
|
|
9
|
Hamilton
North
|
15
|
1
|
3
|
11
|
8
|
59
|
6
|
David Hyslop weaves his way between two Claudelands defenders.