Football: City continue winning ways

Schoolboy Will Clague had another fine game in Tauranga City United's 3-1 win away to Onehunga-Mangere United on Saturday. Photo / George Novak

Tauranga City United put last weekend's celebrations behind them with a 3-1 away win over Onehunga-Mangere United.

After the euphoria of clinching promotion to the Northern Region Division One for next season, Saturday's victory was never in doubt.

But despite the margin of victory, head coach Duncan Lowry said after the game the players were not totally happy with their performance.

"I think sometimes we expect too much from them," said Lowry. "This time last year we would have been so pleased with a 3-1 result up here but we only played well in patches. The last thing as coaches you want to do is drop your standards to whoever you are playing against.

"Sometimes it is hard to keep teams motivated but not these guys. Even on Tuesday night, the first three players in the changing room were the three Hamilton boys, Raymond How, Sam Nahna and Connor Taylor. I don't think they have missed a night this year. They have Hamilton Wanderers and Melville on their back door, who are a step ahead of us, but they want to come over here. We must be doing things right."

Andy Cooper's goal scoring run continued with two more on Saturday following his remarkable tally of four in last Sunday's home win that clinched the Northern Division Two title.

Cooper opened the scoring with a well taken goal, before captain and defensive linchpin Sam O'Regan converted a penalty to give the Blues a handy 2-0 lead at halftime. Hosts Onehunga-Mangere United are a proud bunch with some form behind them, and they scored early in the second half to close the gap to 2-1. But that was as close as they got, as Cooper ended any doubts with his second for the match and 24th goal of the campaign.

Cooper has now scored four more goals than team mate Jerahl Hughes with just next week's away match to Albany on Auckland's North Shore left to play.

Lowry also picked out Otumoetai College schoolboy Will Clague for another fine game.

The reward for this season's outstanding run to the title is that Cooper, Hughes, O'Regan and How have been invited by WaiBOP United coach Peter Smith to attend pre-season training sessions.

Tauranga City United 3 (Andrew Cooper 2, Sam O'Regan) Onehunga-Mangere United 1