Tokoroa 0 v Matamata Swifts 3

Matamata Swifts scored their first away win of the season with a well earned, hard fought, 3-0 victory in a typically rugged southern Waikato derby.

Although sitting at the foot of the Premier League table at the start of play, the combative home side were a match for the confident Swifts, particularly early on. Matamata would have been disappointed with anything less.

For the second week in a row the Swifts had the luxury of an early goal to set them on their way. Less than ten minutes in dead ball specialist, Bevan Shelley, needed no second invitation to tuck his free kick around a poorly positioned defensive wall.

Matamata survived a couple of scares before going two goals up. Tokoroa hit the woodwork twice to keep the Swifts honest and prove they were not willing to cough up the points lightly. The Swifts continued to look dangerous, however, and it was no real surprise when they doubled the lead. Jamie Cox ran on to a defense splitting David Hyslop pass and, with the help of a defender, bagged his fourth goal in two starts.

Twenty minutes into the second half Matamata wrapped the game up. Substitute Jason Collins was the recipient of some Bevan Shelley benevolence. He rolled home his first Premier League goal for the Swifts after man of the match Shelley had run through, and over, several Tokoroa defenders to create the opening.

All the Swifts players delivered solid performances. The full backs, Scott Hudson and Steve Beattie, carried out their defensive duties with aplomb and looked good going forward, while centre forward, Joe Alves, received plenty of punishment from the Tokoroa defenders in return for his all action exhibition in the attacking half of the field. The central midfield partnership of John Van Gog and David Hyslop brought with them plenty of steel and drive to go along side their already established creative ability. Goalie, Ian Moody, would be delighted with his second consecutive clean sheet.

Swifts squad 1-Ian Moody; 11-Steve Beattie, 15-Dwayne Barlow (13-Marcelo Marquez 77m), 4-Colin Taylor, 12-Scott Hudson; 2-Adam Graham (6-Jason Collins 65m), 14-John Van Gog (c) 9-David Hyslop, 5-Jamie Cox; 7-Bevan Shelley, 10-Joe Alves (8-Rodrigo Navarro 85m).

Other results
Cambridge 0 v Claudelands 2
Hamilton North 1 v Ngaruawahia 1
West Hamilton 0 v Putaruru 3
Wanderers (Bye).