Football: Win earns City team promotion

Andrew Cooper (left), Jerahl Hughes and Jordan Culpepper celebrate the goal that secured Tauranga City United promotion to Division One competition next season.Photo / Andrew Warner

Belvedere Group Tauranga City United are going up.

Yesterday's 3-0 defeat of Fencibles United at Links Avenue assured the rejuvenated club of a top-three finish in the Northern Region Division Two competition and direct entry into Division One in 2015.

It was the culmination of a three-year plan that took one less than that, and an emotional Duncan Lowry could not have been happier.

"They were the only team that beat us home and away last year," the coach began.

"The last game of the season was against Fencibles up there and we've been building from that game. We knew we weren't ready for it and we finished fourth last year, and there had to be a few changes from within - both in the changing rooms and in the committee too.

"It was a three-year plan and we've got there in two. I'm proud of what we've done - built up a good squad then built from the changing sheds out."

The manner in which the Blues confirmed their passage was in keeping with how they had gone about their work this year.

While below their best in a scoreless first half in which the Auckland side kept plenty of players behind the ball, the home side continued to create opportunities out wide through the speed of Jerahl Hughes and Andrew Cooper.

Both players missed sitters and could have had hat tricks on another day, inspiring some nerves from the Tauranga City faithful.

The pair slotted a goal apiece to make it 2-0 midway through the second half following the sending off of pivotal Fencibles playmaker Paul Montino for a second yellow card, before Hughes gift wrapped a second for the improving Cooper to slot from close range.

The side, missing captain Sam O'Regan due to his accumulation of yellow cards, was too sharp right across the paddock and received strong performances going forward from Connor Taylor, Jordan Culpepper and Josh Nelson.

The back division, marshalled by the excellent Raymond How and faultless goalkeeper Tom Pamment, was barely troubled in the absence of their skipper.

The side now turns its attention to winning a league for the first time since Larry Seales and Gordon Crosby won the Northern Premier League in 1999 and 2000.

They sit seven points in front with four matches remaining, and a good chance the title could be claimed on home soil against Claudelands Rovers on August 24.

Belvedere Group Tauranga City United 3 (Andrew Cooper 2, Jerahl Hughes) Fencibles United 0.