Metso Matamata Swifts were on the road for the third time in their first four Waikato Premier League (WPL) fixtures this season and came away with an important, if not especially impressive, victory. The conditions, along with a gritty Huntly performance, played a big part in limiting the level of the Swifts performance, but thankfully Matamata was able to grind out the result and bring home the three points.

Huntly and Matamata entered the day level on points but from the outset it was clear there was a gulf in class between the two sides. Huntly scrapped and kicked and fought for most things, but offered little else, while the Swifts, despite the heavy, slippery conditions, played by far the better football.

The Swifts had the match seemingly wrapped up by half time. Two good goals, and a solid first half performance, should have ended the match as a meaningful contest. Captain, Andy Birchenough, drove the ball home on the twenty minute mark to settle the nerves, then Jason Collins, restored to an attacking roll after playing in goal last week, expertly finished to double the lead not long after.

Matamata had settled into a period of good football that left their opponents gasping for air and chasing shadows (had there been shadows on such a grey, wet, dismal North Waikato day). The Swifts should really have had more goals, though, as Alberto Romero pushed a good chance wide not long before the break. The side was also denied several times by the sheer weight of numbers camped in the Huntly 18-yard box. It's always tough to score through a forest of legs.

The second half was an exercise in frustration for Matamata as they took the foot off the accelerator and let their battered opponents back into the game.

A great chance to kill things off completely went begging not long after the break as Duncan Lowry, playing in an advanced role, scooped a shot straight at the keeper.

This gave Huntly heart and they had their best period of the game around the hour mark. While they only ever threatened from the handful of set pieces they were able to secure, this was more than enough to keep the Swifts honest on such a mucky surface.

Going forward, the Swifts misfired again as their attempt to play intricate football, while commendable, was perhaps not what was required on this particular day. A simpler, more pragmatic, approach would surely have brought greater rewards.

Matamata survived a late scare as Huntly pushed a simple chance wide with only minutes remaining. After that neither side offered too much as the clock ran down and the players then scrambled to get off the field and out of the rain.

The Swifts travels continue next weekend as they head to Taupo for their first round Chatham Cup game. Taupo are the current Bay of Plenty Division 1 leaders and will be a tough side to face in a win or die match.