diff --git a/test/plugin.jelly b/test/plugin.jelly
index 7b212ab6..3a8ce4fc 100644
--- a/test/plugin.jelly
+++ b/test/plugin.jelly
@@ -307,11 +307,16 @@
 
     <j:if test="${unitTestSourcesPresent == 'true'}">
     
+      <j:if test="${context.getVariable('testmatch') != null}">
+        <echo>[deprecated] testmatch property is deprecated, please use testmatchpattern instead</echo>
+        <j:set var="testmatchpattern" value="**/${testmatch}.*"/>
+      </j:if>
+
       <j:choose>
-        <j:when test="${empty(testmatch)}">
+        <j:when test="${empty(testmatchpattern)}">
         <echo>
-          You must define the test case to run via -Dtestmatch=pattern
-          Example: maven -Dtestmatch=*Foo* test:match
+          You must define the test case to run via -Dtestmatchpattern=pattern
+          Example: maven -Dtestmatchpattern=*Foo* test:match
         </echo>
         </j:when>
 
@@ -361,7 +366,10 @@
 
             <batchtest todir="${maven.test.reportsDirectory}">
               <fileset dir="${maven.test.searchdir}">
-                <include name="**/${testmatch}.*"/>
+                <include name="${testmatchpattern}"/>
+                <j:if test="${context.getVariable('testnotmatchpattern') != null}">
+                  <exclude name="${testnotmatchpattern}"/>
+                </j:if>
               </fileset>
             </batchtest>
 
diff --git a/test/xdocs/changes.xml b/test/xdocs/changes.xml
index 529ca680..5c2e6fff 100644
--- a/test/xdocs/changes.xml
+++ b/test/xdocs/changes.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
   </properties>
   <body>
     <release version="1.7-SNAPSHOT" date="in CVS">
+      <action dev="carlos" type="add">Added testnotmatchpattern that can be used in test:match</action>
+      <action dev="carlos" type="fix" issue="MPTEST-48">Deprecated testmatch property by testmatchpattern to allow more complex patterns in test:match</action>
       <action dev="brett" type="update">Deprecate dependency handle</action>
     </release>
     <release version="1.6.2" date="2004-06-25">
diff --git a/test/xdocs/goals.xml b/test/xdocs/goals.xml
index d6f5faaa..779a446d 100644
--- a/test/xdocs/goals.xml
+++ b/test/xdocs/goals.xml
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@
       </goal>
       <goal>
         <name>test:match</name>
-        <description>Execute all the tests matching the given 'testmatch' variable</description>
+        <description>Execute all the tests matching the given 'testmatchpattern' variable
+        nd excluding those in 'testnotmatchpattern' variable</description>
       </goal>
       <goal>
         <name>test:match-test</name>
diff --git a/test/xdocs/properties.xml b/test/xdocs/properties.xml
index f8ad9a78..62177914 100644
--- a/test/xdocs/properties.xml
+++ b/test/xdocs/properties.xml
@@ -252,10 +252,17 @@ maven.test.search.classdir=true
         </tr>
 
        <tr>
-          <td>testmatch</td>
+          <td>testmatchpattern</td>
+          <td>Yes (required in test:match)</td>
+          <td>
+            Ant pattern used in test:match goal to specify the tests that should run
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+       <tr>
+          <td>testnotmatchpattern</td>
           <td>Yes</td>
           <td>
-            Used in test:match goal to specify the tests that should run
+            Ant pattern used in test:match goal to specify the tests that shouldn't run
           </td>
         </tr>
 
