Soccer: Tauranga City United riding high

What a difference a year has made for Tauranga City United.

The side's thrilling extra time 4-3 win against Manukau City AFC on Sunday provided the perfect example of how much the football and atmosphere at Links Avenue has improved since last season.

Back then, the Blues looked like a club struggling.

Crowd numbers appeared down, the attack was largely one-dimensional with long balls to striker Jack McNab and, frankly, the side was not exactly a joy to watch.

Sure, the hot chips were good and $2 got you a white paper bag of jet planes as big as your fist, but aside from that there was not a great deal to recommend a trip to Links Avenue.

Not so now.

With the side riding high in second place on the Northern League Division Two table, a new sponsor on board, passage secured into the second round of the Chatham Cup and an influx of players who bring speed, attacking intent and hard-nosed defence to the table, the club appears to be going from strength to strength.

There is an unmistakable buzz about the place, with crowds regularly numbering in the hundreds rather than the dozens forming large lines for drinks, chips, pies and sausages in bread with all the trimmings for the throwback price of just $1.50.

The side is away this weekend to top-of-the-table side Fencibles United, but is sure to draw a good crowd for the next home match against Lynn Avon on May 25.