Football: Attacking football brings crowds flocking back

It has not taken long for former Old Blues player Andrew Cooper to make his mark for Tauranga City United. Photo/Andrew Warner

A more well-rounded, balanced style of attacking football is bringing the goals, points and fans back to Links Avenue.

At times last season - especially in the early days - City looked to be a struggling club.

A one-dimensional attack, almost exclusively featuring searching balls in the direction of lone striker Jack McNab, produced too few goals in front of sparse crowds.

Saturday's Lotto Northern League Second Division match against Waiuku AFC produced plenty of all three, with Tauranga City United collecting the three points on the back of a clinical 5-0 romp in front of a grandstand crammed with spectators.

The first-half goals came every quarter of an hour.

The first fell to Raymond How in the 15th minute after a stinging shot from skipper Sam O'Regan deflected off the post following a corner.

The lead doubled in the 31st minute thanks to Andrew Cooper's left foot.

The third just before the break put the game away and summed up the visitors' day.

A Waiuku defender's attempted clearance was, in fact, a perfectly placed volley into his own net. It sucked all the life out of the visitors, who barely threatened all day.

McNab notched another in the 50th minute with a clinical set-piece header at the back post, triggering a regression in the quality of the match.

Jerahl Hughes left with a return of a hamstring niggle before Cooper, and O'Regan were replaced with an eye to Monday's home match against a Papakura FC side that sat fourth coming into the weekend.

Tom Livesey finished off the rout with a popular strike in the 90th minute.

Another defensive blunder left Livesey one on one with Waiuku goalie Justin Baldwin.

The first-time right-footed finish was perfectly placed - the 12th City goal of the season against just three.

The side needs a top-three finish to win promotion, something coach Duncan Lowry knows is sorely needed.

Today's matches kick-off at 2.30pm.

Tauranga City United 5 (Raymond How 15', Andrew Cooper 31', own goal 45', Jack McNab 50', Tom Livesey 90) Waiuku AFC 0.