The Swifts reserves took on Claudelands in ideal conditions at the Domain in this vital match. With the visitors three points ahead the Swifts did not want that margin increasing.

This was the classic game of two halves as the visitors were exploiting space on the flanks and the Swifts defence was stretched on more than a few occasions during the first half. It was the Swifts who opened the scoring though with Matt Monteith's neatly angled shot.

Claudelands did reply though with two goals to go into the break one up.

The Swifts made several tactical changes at the break with Bevan Shelley coming on at sweeper and Joe Alves upfront. The changes paid off almost immediately with Neil Slater lashing the ball home from 16 metres to level the scores and then scoring again from close range to put the Swifts ahead for the second time in the match.

With the midfield working well it was the Swifts turn to create the opportunities as they dominated the half. Rodrigo Navarro hit the post with one effort whilst other chances for the team lacked the finishing touch, although the Claudelands keeper was in fine form and was also the keeper in the following WPL game.

Luis Maldonado showed good skills on the right hand side of the midfield and almost capped off the move of the game but his header went wide. Slater, Navarro and Gabriel Valarino in midfield got the team going forward, while the backline of Marcelo Marquez, Jono Monteith, Bevan Shelley and Pete Challis cut down the visitors chances in the second half.

It was a tense final few minutes before the win arrived but it sees the Swifts move into second place ahead of Claudelands on goal difference.

It was a fitting send off for Gabriel Valarino who is returning to Uruguay. His experience will be sorely missed.