Metso Matamata Swifts resumed its Waikato Premier League title chase, after a weekend off, at home against Cambridge. This was yet another must win match for Matamata.

The weekend off seemed to do wonders for Matamata as they started with probably their best form of the season so far. After going close a few times and having a majority of both ball possession and territory Matamata opened their account in their most accustomed method of scoring, a Ged Parkinson penalty.

Once the deadlock was broken Matamata continued to play well especially in the midfield with Alberto Romero controlling play in a new role for Matamata's playmaker. Eventually the Cambridge defense broke and Jason Collins was put through for a one-on-one with the keeper and with his sheer persistence finished brilliantly.

The third of Matamata's goals was a brilliantly worked move down the right hand side with Colin Taylor receiving the ball in full stride to send in a great cross to Hayri Cihan to finish.

However, while Matamata was playing well in the first half they still had Gary Darkes to thank for going into half time 3-nil up.

The second half started much the same as the first half and when Jase Collins finished another one on one with the keeper it seemed that the floodgates would open. Unfortunately, they didn't and the complete opposite occurred, with Matamata really going off the boil and their opponents competing for everything.

The change in the second half seemed to occur when Alberto Romero was violently chopped by one of the Cambridge defenders as they seemed unable to really shut him down by any legal means. From then on Cambridge became the hungrier team , with both sides now creating opportunities on goal.

Matamata started knocking the ball around a lot more, but were unable to penetrate the Cambridge defense again, and Cambridge for their persistence earned a late consolation goal. The rematch in a few weeks will certainly tell which side learnt more from the match. Let's just hope Matamata can continue their first half performance for 90 minutes, as that should now be the benchmark.

Man of the Match: Scott Parsonage.