Hamilton North 0 v Matamata Swifts 3

Matamata Swifts put in a rusty, but ultimately rewarding, performance to defeat lowly Hamilton North on Saturday. The Swifts had a bye last weekend and their week of inactivity showed during the early stages as they struggled to get things going against a feisty home side.

The match was level until well into the second half, although Matamata always looked the more likely side to score. The rugged playing surface led to a disjointed first half showing from the Swifts, although they did look dangerous when they played the ball on the deck. David Hyslop, Joe Alves and Jamie Cox all went close to opening the scoring before the break but it was a frustrated Swifts side that went into half time.

Playing with the breeze at their back, Matamata was a different side during the second half. Each side missed a sitter before the Swifts took control with two goals in two minutes. Jamie Cox poked home the first of his two goals before Joe Alves kept up his goal-a-game scoring average as he tucked in a neat header from a superb Marcelo Marquez cross.

Man of the match Cox pounced again in the last ten minutes with Matamata's insurance goal. His left-footed strike finished off some good work in the box by Joe Alves.

Other players to shine for Matamata were centre-back, Colin Taylor, midfielder, Alberto Romero, and striker, Bevan Shelley. In truth, this was a battling performance the whole side can be pleased with leading into the more important games over the coming weeks.

Swifts squad 1-Dave Taylor; 2- Emerson Fuchs, 8-Dwayne Barlow, 4-Colin Taylor, 13-Marcelo Marquez (Joseph Dew 78m); 9-David Hyslop, 14-John Van Gog (c), 15-Alberto Romero, 5-Jamie Cox; 7-Bevan Shelley, 10-Joe Alves.

Other results
Putaruru 1 v Wanderers 6
Tokoroa 0 v Claudelands 6
West Hamilton 0 v Cambridge 8
Ngaruawahia (Bye).