diff --git a/mercurial/fileset.py b/mercurial/fileset.py
--- a/mercurial/fileset.py
+++ b/mercurial/fileset.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # This software may be used and distributed according to the terms of the
 # GNU General Public License version 2 or any later version.
 
-import parser, error, match
+import parser, error
 from i18n import _
 
 elements = {
diff --git a/mercurial/hg.py b/mercurial/hg.py
--- a/mercurial/hg.py
+++ b/mercurial/hg.py
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ def repository(ui, path='', create=False
             hook(ui, repo)
     return repo
 
+def peer(ui, opts, path, create=False):
+    '''return a repository peer for the specified path'''
+    rui = remoteui(ui, opts)
+    return repository(rui, path, create)
+
 def defaultdest(source):
     '''return default destination of clone if none is given'''
     return os.path.basename(os.path.normpath(source))