Soccer: Tauranga shoot to third in the table

Jack McNab just cannot stop scoring for Tauranga City United. Photo / Joel Ford

Tauranga City United have moved into third position on the Northern League 2nd Division table after their 3-nil home win over Lynn Avon on Sunday.

The early stages of the first half were uneventful, it was almost like a game of chess with both sides playing a similar style of football.

Blues keeper Tom Pamment was called on to make a save at the feet of Lynn Avon's Thomas Hahn, then in the 35th minute he dispatched a long goal kick which was headed forward by leading goal scorer Jack McNab. It then fell at the feet of young Jonas Eyskens who on the second attempt got the ball under control, beat his markers and then rounded the keeper to slot the ball into the empty net.

Three minutes later, local supporters were treated to a goal which if Tauranga charged an admission would have been worth the price on its own. McNab standing just inside the penalty area, and in the middle of the field, collected a pass with his back towards goal. In one fluid movement, he flicked the ball up and launched into a bicycle kick, which was perfectly executed. He has scored some great goals this season but surely none as classy as that.

The second half saw the visitors on the offensive. It took fine defensive work by City's back line to keep their advantage. Centre back Karl Bryant may have ended his season when he pulled up with a suspected torn hamstring when attempting to chase down a Lynn Avon breakaway.

With only the keeper to beat, the striker fired his shot wide. Luck played a part in the 70th minute when the post came to the Blues rescue after it appeared Hugh Sorby had done enough to get his side back into the match.

A minute later, the game was wrapped up when Dean Styles fired a pass across goal that not only beat the rapidly advancing home attack force but also the visitor's keeper.

A feature of the City United season is the opportunity that is given to young up-and-coming players. This was displayed again when 16-year-old Will Clague came on with 15 minutes to play. He is a nippy wing and tested the Lynn Avon keeper in the dying stages.

Tauranga are four points adrift of second-placed Mangere United who also registered a win this weekend. Both teams have two games left; Tauranga facing home and away fixtures against fourth-placed Fencibles, while Mangere have two home matches against 10th-placed Warkworth and ninth-placed Claudelands Rovers. The advantage certainly appears to be with the Auckland side, however it's a funny old game football. Local fans will not want to miss the Blues final home game this Saturday at Links Avenue.

In other footballing news, the Bay of Plenty women's team finished fourth in the Lotto Northern Regional League premier league after putting together a record of four wins and two draws from 16 matches.