Matamata Swifts visited Northern Premier league side, Tauranga City United, in their latest pre-season outing and produced a good performance in holding their hosts to a 1-1 draw.

Matamata more than competed with their higher ranked opponents and, but for a little more luck in front of goal, could have come away with victory. The side was reshaped for the day with coach, Duncan Lowry, experimenting with a traditional 4-4-2 formation. This allowed Brazilian Julio dos Santos, until recently a professional beach soccer player, to make his debut at right back.

While it took the Swifts a short while to click into the pace of the game, they soon got a handle on what was required and began to match Tauranga. The midfield looked as lively as always, and was complemented by the solid base offered by their back four and some honest endeavour by the front runners.

Tauranga's goal came midway through the first half following a mix up in the Matamata defence. It said much for the Matamata performance to that point that their hosts seemed extremely delighted to score, no matter how it came.

Matamata certainly wasn't short of goal scoring chances of their own. Hayri Cihan had a couple of good opportunities leading in to half time but was denied first by a good save, after a slick multi-pass move, and then by the slippery surface.

The fans had barely settled back into their seats following the half time break when Neil Slater pulled out a stunner to get the Swifts back on level terms. His left-footed screamer on the turn was worth the price of admission alone (well it would have been, had the fans actually paid to get in).

Both sides looked capable of scoring again but were unable to find the instant of quality needed to break the deadlock. Slater did have the ball in the back of the net a second time not long after his goal, but it was ruled out for off-side, somewhat harshly it seemed at the time.

This match was another useful exercise for the Swifts coaching staff. They deliberately took a small squad of only 13 players to allow everyone plenty of game time. Their defence and midfield stayed unchanged throughout the match while the front two of Slater and Cihan were replaced early in the second half by Adam Graham and Luis Maldonado as Matamata continue their search for a functional front two.

Such is the depth of the Swifts squad that they have used 24 different players in their four games to date so far. That is a promising sign for the weeks and months ahead, as is the form of key players such as captain Andy Birchenough, Alberto Romero and Juan Carlos Rodriguez in the Swifts midfield.

Matamata travels to Taupo next Saturday in their final pre-season match. On the following Saturday (March 25) the Swifts do battle against 2005 Bay of Plenty champions, Kawerau Town, in the Caper Cup final.