Tauranga City prove winners at home

Steffano Riley scored two goals in Tauranga City's 5-1 win on Sunday. Photo / George Novak

Any game you crash five goals in the back of the opposition's net is one to savour, but Tauranga City United know they left just as many out on the Links Ave pitch on Sunday.

They dominated Oratia United from the opening whistle and never looked like losing their second match of the new Northern League Division 1 season.

Tauranga City led 2-0 at halftime through well-taken goals from Connor Irvine and Colm Kenny and added three more to finish with a brace to lively winger Steffano Riley and the final strike to midfielder Harry Gawtrey.

So 5-1 sounds impressive, but Oratia were woeful in the last 25 minutes. Later in the season goal difference is likely to play a part but it is a minor glitch on what was a positive home start for the new look blues in 2017.

Several new faces were on show from last year's squad with Riley one of the players who were unable to break into last year's first-team squad.

New coach Barry Gardiner was happy with the result over Oratia but says there is plenty of room for work at both attacking and defensive ends.

"If you said to me before the game that we were going to win the game 5-1 then I certainly would have taken that. On reflection of the game though I think at times we played well and we created quite a few chances," Gardiner said.

"It could have been more if I'm honest and there were moments in the second half when we could have managed the game properly. We let them in a couple of times with longer balls over the top and never recovered in position to nullify that threat."

Gardiner has taken up the reigns at the club alongside his full-time role as a talent football development officer at WaiBOP.

Giving everyone in the two senior squads a chance to shine has been warmly received by players.

"When I came into the club I said everybody's got an opportunity to make it into that first team and they have certainly proved they should be in there so full credit to the players," Gardiner said.

"They played some nice football, and Steff (Riley) had an exceptional game, and Harry (Gawtrey) combined well with him as well. We have some players in an attacking sense who are combining well and creating good chances, and they are good football players at the same time.

"But they have to keep working on their game to improve every week."

Riley was disappointed he did not get a hat-trick but obviously excited to be part of the new-look Tauranga City formation.

"It is a really good atmosphere actually. Last year it was quite cut between first team and reserves, but now it is really open," he said.

"Barry has come in and has set things straight but quite chilled. He didn't come in too hard. We have a big season up ahead, and I believe we can go far."