Waiheke sent packing back to the Island in Chatham Cup clash

MATCH WINNER: Hat trick hero Nathan Farey chases a ball in Sunday's 4-0 win over Waiheke Island. PHOTO: GEORGE NOVAK

The Chatham Cup worked its magic on Tauranga City United as they put their poor league form to one side to beat Waiheke Island 4-0 at Links Ave on Sunday.

The iconic sporting trophy was sideline as the players ran out for their round one Chatham Cup tie.

The usually benign atmosphere at the ground was replaced by non-stop drumming and chanting from a colourful band of 100 or so ex-pat Argentinians who turned up to support the visiting team.

Waiheke Island's team is mostly made up of South Americans who arrived at Links Ave in form and undefeated in the division below Tauranga City.

After three consecutive defeats and leaking 19 goals there was understandably a distinct lack of confidence in the Tauranga team as the game kicked off.

Waiheke made use of some early defensive jitters and should have gone ahead after 10 minutes the first of several crucial saves from under-fire goalkeeper Tom Pamment thwarted their efforts.

It was almost one-way traffic for most of the half, which ended goalless much to the delight of the Tauranga faithful, drowned out by the impromptu samba band that thankfully like the players took a break at halftime.

If the opening 45 minutes were Waiheke's, the second spell was all about a rejuvenated Tauranga City who threw together the best-worked moves of the match orchestrated by Josh Nielson in midfield.

Wingers Steffano Riley and Nathan Farey cut some merry capers through and around the Waiheke fullbacks, and the goals came quickly over a 15-minute blitz on Waiheke's goal.

Farey finished the first well after being put into space behind the back four, then Colm Kenny buried a free header for 2-0 after 63 minutes. Five minutes later Riley made an excellent run and with a sight of goal unselfishly squared the ball for Farey to tap in for 3-0.

Waiheke's discipline fell apart badly with some weak challenges flying in. One on Riley inside the box gave referee Andrew Lamberth no choice but to award a penalty which Farey dispatched for his hat trick and Tauranga's fourth goal.

The final margin left Tauranga's players and coaches delighted but a little surprised on the run of play. But dominating midfield possession means nothing if you can't put the ball in the net.

Tauranga coach Barry Gardiner admits the first half was a bit scrappy and Waiheke got a few balls in behind the defence that caused some issues.

"We could have possibly been down at halftime so to come in at halftime at 0-0 after a couple of bad results was good. We put a plan in action in the second half, and you saw the rewards of that in getting a 4-0 victory," Gardiner said.

"I said to a couple of the boys we have had better possession in games and not got results, whereas today we have finished chances. So we are happy with the result.

"We got more chances today, but we have come up against better defences before this season. There were more gaps in the field which allowed us to get more chances I think."

Tauranga City United 4 (Nathan Farey 3, Colm Kenny) Waiheke United 0
HT: 0-0