It could have been the best of days. But it could also have been the worst. In the end Metso Matamata Swifts had to settle for what could turn out to be an important point from their difficult away fixture against the Waikato Premier League's early season pacesetters, Claudelands.

On weight of possession and goal scoring chances, this is a game Matamata should have won comfortably. This has been this case in all their league matches so far this season, but for the second away game in a row the Swifts were unable to come away with a victory. In fact, they were indebted to two goals in the last ten minutes from central defender, Ged Parkinson, for securing what turned out to be an unlikely draw.

Matamata found themselves a goal down at the break following an uninspired first half effort. As is so often the case the Swifts were slow to get into the game. Having said that they still appeared to control things, particularly in the middle third of the pitch. There were worrying signs up front, however, as the attack continually misfired, like a rusty old mid-70's Italian sports car. At the back, the stand-in Swifts goalie, Jason Collins, and back three were virtually redundant.

The opening goal for Claudelands came from nothing. A loopy, over hit cross, midway through the half drifted into the Swifts box and a mix-up between Parkinson and Collins led to the ball bouncing into an open net off Parkinson's head. The goal was a real shock to everyone.

Alberto Romero went close to restoring parity for Matamata just before the break, but his shot was well saved by the Claudelands keeper diving at full stretch low to his right.

Not long after the break the home side doubled their lead. The Swifts, pressing to get an early second half goal, were caught out by a classy counter attack. The Claudelands attacker did his best to miss, driving his shot against the inside of the upright from right out in front, but he did enough to grab a goal.

After that the battering began. Matamata had an unbelievable amount of possession during the last half hour, along with enough chances and half chances to win a couple of games at this level. Their opponents scrapped, grafted and fought for everything, putting in a performance of sheer guts and heart that almost saw them get home.

Claudelands almost wrapped the game up with less than twenty minutes to go. A rare break out saw Collins stranded and beaten but Swifts defender, and Schick Quattro man of the match, Colin Taylor got back to clear the ball off the line.

That was the break Matamata needed as they resumed their quest for getting goals and, eventually, something worthwhile from the match.

The Swifts increased the pressure on their opponents as every minute passed. Shots that earlier were sailing over the goal began getting closer to the target. Claudelands defended deeper and deeper and put more and more men behind the ball. They put up a red human wall that creaked and groaned but seemed likely to hold.

Finally, with less than ten minutes remaining on the referee's slowly ticking watch, the pressure told. Alberto Romero's feet were too quick for a Claudelands defender who could only haul him down in the box. Penalty! Ged Parkinson stepped up and did what he always does from the spot: score.

Moments later, Parkinson completed his 'hat trick' as he headed home a Romero cross, something his attackers had failed to do all day.

The final whistle went and the Swifts were left with the classic bag of mixed feelings: equal parts relief, jubilation and frustration. While they failed in their second attempt to win an away game this season, they did at least show enough class and composure to get something from the match when it seemed they would leave empty handed. Defeat would have been a disaster. A draw, in the final wash, was not so bad.