Last season they copped it for coughing up late goals at home on their way to becoming the Northern League second division's draw specialists.
Yesterday, Tauranga City United would have gladly pocketed a point for a deadlock, but instead slumped to a 2-1 home defeat to south Auckland side MangereUnited in a tempestuous second-round clash where a point might have been all they deserved.
With the decision to play their home games on Sunday bringing a decent crowd through the Links Ave gates, optimism was high that Tauranga might kick on from their opening weekend win over Papakura, especially with first team regulars Josh Nelson (suspension) and Graham Craven (injury) back, although both started off the bench.
That optimism increased markedly with Mangere 'keeper Ilimekelki Dawai doing his best impression of a beginner golfer as a hacked clearance took a foot long divot and skewed as far as Ian Stringfellow, whose long range effort was cleared off the line by a desperate Zynal Sahib.
Mangere grabbed the lead in the 23rd minute in controversial circumstances, with the best counter-attackers in the league breaking clear up the right.
The linesman's flag shot up and down in a split second, Tauranga's defence hesitated and James Patrick Hoyt had a clear run at goal, rounding Tauranga stopped Dale Schishka for the opener as City's players protested the officialdom's indecision.
Just minutes later Hoyt and Stringfellow earned yellow cards and a stern rebuke after tangling off the ball.
The injection of Nelson in the second half sparked a lacklustre Tauranga, who were making life tough at the back with a muddling effort, and drew his side level with an exquisite freekick on the edge of the penalty area that deflected off the near post. But, just when it looked as if the points would be shared, Hoyt had the last laugh with a freekick that trumped Nelson's, cannoning his 20m strike into the top of the net.
