Tauranga City United head into their Easter weekend doubleheader positioned right where they want to be, grabbing second spot in the Northern League's second division at the expense of Hibiscus Coast, the team they beat 3-1 at the weekend.
But they will need to be sharper from the outset this weekendafter co-coach Grant Turner pulled out his "bad cop" routine for the first time this season, saying the bulk of his players left their passion and winning attitude halfway up SH2 in a lacklustre first half.
"They arrived (in Orewa) asleep so we gave them a rark up - the first of the season," he said. "They saw a different Grant Turner than the one they'd been used to, a few stern words, because there was no real urgency about our play. I was quite direct about what I wanted to see in the second half."
Rafi Mohammadi scored from the penalty spot for Hibiscus Coast, before City skipper Jordan Culpepper equalised, getting on the end of a Joel Wakelin cross that was spilled by the opposition keeper.
Ian Stringfellow and Wakelin, back after several seasons in Hawke's Bay, were on target for Tauranga in the second half as they eased clear on the waterlogged pitch.
Turner said Wakelin had shown up back in the Bay and was playing in Tauranga's reserve team. "It was a bit of a gamble throwing him in but we were down a bit on personnel with Steve Smith, Mark Van Der Salm and Josh Nelson all out.
"He's a tidy player and a big presence and his goal, where he turned his marker on the edge of the area and curled a beautiful shot into the corner of the goal, was one of the best I've seen."
Tauranga's win on the road was blighted by defender Nathan Farey's red card a few minutes from fulltime for ranting at the referee. Farey is automatically suspended for Saturday's home clash with Ngaruawahia, with Tauranga back at Links Ave again on Easter Monday against Mangere United.
Mt Albert-Ponsonby, who with Tauranga are the only unbeaten sides in the league, consolidated their place at the top of division two with a 6-0 thrashing of Waikuku.
