Tauranga City win spiteful encounter against Franklin

FOCUSED: Jordan Culpepper, right, battles for the ball against Franklin United. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER

Tauranga City United should really have beaten Franklin United by a five- or six-goal cushion in Sunday's one-sided game at Links Ave.

Franklin had two players red-carded and an obvious player of the match in heroic goalkeeper Krith Kumar, who saved three penalties and a succession of hot chances from the Tauranga strike force.

But in the end it took a superb diving header from right winger Connor Irvine for Tauranga to edge ahead 2-1 and move up to second equal on the Northern Division One table.

For all Kumar's heroics there was a distinct lack of poise from City's players where it mattered most - in front of goal.

Last week's two-goal star Steffano Riley had enough chances for a hattrick inside 25 minutes and other players missed gaping chances in an entertaining opening 45 minutes.

Those openings were the end product of some excellent passing from the midfield with Harry Gawtrey, Josh Nelson and Jordan Culpepper in dominant form.

The opening goal came after 14 minutes when Gawtrey's shot was partially deflected past Kumar after some determined play by Colm Kenny.

Kenny looked set to make it 2-0 before the break from the penalty spot after Riley was hacked down in the box. Kumar had other ideas and dived full length to his left to save the spot kick which was a sighter for his dramatics later in the match.

Franklin started the second spell with more urgency and hit the post with their first attack to rattle Tauranga.

They had another good chance early on which was cleared off the line with keeper Tom Pamment beaten. Finally, some slack marking by Tauranga from a corner after 70 minutes was punished by Noa Vukica who swept the equaliser home.

Franklin's discipline then deserted them after they had fought back into the match.

First key playmaker Chris Abbott was given a straight red card after a tackle then the Franklin team lost all shape and discipline when referee Peter Farrell awarded another penalty after a blatant handball in the box.

Disappointingly, Farrell and his assistant referee were subject to some poor language and behaviour which is something football federations are desperate to vanquish from the game.

Up stepped Gawtrey. His well struck penalty was brilliantly parried away by Kumar but the spot-kick was ordered to be retaken as Kumar had moved too early.

No matter as he repeated his save from the retaken penalty for a remarkable third save from the spot.

With time running out it seemed a draw was the likely result until Kenny found some late energy and lobbed a peach of a pass over the Franklin defenders on to the head of a flying Irvine who buried the winner.

There was time for more drama with another red card as Franklin's Dinesh Lingham was dismissed but Tauranga held on for three precious points.

It was certainly deserved on the run of play with some sharp shooting practice needed at training this week.

Tauranga City United 2 (Harry Gawtrey 25, Connor Irvine 85)
Franklin United 1 (Noa Vukica 70)