Football: Tauranga City AFC lose 3-0 at home

Andy Carter lines up a free kick against Waiheke. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Tauranga City AFC suffered a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Waiheke United at Links Ave on Saturday.

The turning point in the match came early in the second half when Tauranga's Sam O'Reagan was sent off for a second yellow card with the game evenly poised at nil-all.

The first half was a good spectacle with both sides having chances with Tauranga's Andy Carter striking a powerful shot heading for the right-hand corner until the Waiheke goal keeper pushed it wide with a fine save.

Luke Woolerton, Jay Silcock and Nils Winistorfer all worked tirelessly for Tauranga City with Winistorfer wiping a great ball across goal for Jay Silcock at the far post to come close to opening the scoring.

Waiheke made a couple of chances themselves with Tommy Pamment holding fast in goal.

Defenders Ray How and Ben Donald were tight in the middle while Andy Smith and Yago Zavoluk dealt with the wide players as they tried to use their pace to get in behind.

O'Reagan's red card as the second half started made Tauranga's job more difficult and soon after Ramiro Cabeza Villar put the visitors ahead 1-0.

Tauranga held them out for 15 minutes but two quick goals from Marc Evans and a second to Cabeza Villa sealed the win for Waiheke.

The loss leaves Tauranga City in eighth place on the table and needing points to move away from the relegation zone.