Matamata Swifts 4v Ngaruawahia 1

Whoever first said that football is a funny old game didn't know the half of it. The football on display at the Domain on Saturday lurched from the sublime, to the bizarre and then sunk to the completely ridiculous as Metso Matamata Swifts scored four goals and had four players sent off!

The Swifts began their match against Ngaruawahia in the best possible manner. Some incisive, inspired, play set them on their way early on. Bevan Shelley picked out Scott Hudson who rammed home his third goal of the season with a magical left-footed bullet.

Matamata built a match winning lead with two further first half goals. John Van Gog opened his account for the 2004 season, from the penalty spot, after Bevan Shelley had been hacked down in the box. Soon after Joe Alves kept his nose ahead in the race for the Golden Boot with another clinical strike from inside the box.

The visitors, who always looked dangerous, kept themselves in touch with a superb long-range goal just before the break. And then the fun began.

During the second half things turned stupid as the referee decided to stamp his authority on a match that didn't need it. The fireworks began with a little less than half an hour remaining, when the first Swift was dismissed, and continued to the end. In fact, such was the damage inflicted by the official, that Matamata were forced to play the final ten minutes with only seven players on the field.

Maddeningly, the official, so obviously out of his depth, completely lost control of himself. The Swifts had one of their players dismissed for lying on the ground and being kicked in the back, while another Swift was booked for time wasting, even though he was standing over the ball while it was still in the field of play. The less said about the rest of it the better because the fine for all the dismissals and bookings is going to be big enough. We don't need another couple of hundred dollars added to the bill.

In amongst all the madness Matamata grabbed a fourth goal. The excellent crowd erupted after Jason Collins rammed home the game-clinching goal while his team still had nine players on the field.

Best for Matamata were man of the match Colin Taylor and goalie Dave Taylor. Beven Shelley, as always, was a livewire up front and led the rearguard action near the end like a seasoned pro. The entire team can take great credit for a ballsy display under the most absurd pressure imaginable.

Unfortunately the actions of one madman may have serious implications for the remainder of the Swifts' season. Matamata seem sure to have four first choice players suspended at least for next week's vital encounter against Wanderers, a must win match that will now be an even more difficult proposition than previously expected.

We await the fallout...

Swifts squad 1-Dave Taylor; 11- Steve Beattie, 3-Dwayne Barlow, 4-Colin Taylor, 15-Alberto Romero; 12-Scott Hudson, 14-John Van Gog (c) 9-David Hyslop, 5-Jamie Cox (6-Jason Collins 60m); 7-Bevan Shelley, 10-Joe Alves (13-Marcelo Marquez 75m).
Sub not used: 8-Rodrigo Navarro.

Other results
Cambridge 2 v Putaruru 1
Claudelands 4 v Wanderers 0
Hamilton North 2 v West Hamilton 4
Tokoroa (Bye).



Above: John Van Gog (No 14) slots home Matamata's second goal from the penalty spot.