Wakelin scores again in Tauranga win

Three years away from football hasn't dulled Joel Wakelin's appetite for scoring goals - and isn't he, and Tauranga City United's supporters, loving it.
Wakelin has slotted effortlessly back into the Tauranga City United lineup after four years away in Hawke's Bay, proving an absolute handful for Northern League division two opponents Ngaruawahia United at Links Ave on Saturday as CNS Clinic-sponsored Tauranga edged the visitors 2-1.
Wakelin scored in his first team comeback game against Hibiscus Coast eight days ago, a strike Tauranga co-coach Grant Turner described as one of the best he'd seen - high praise indeed from the All Whites legend.
The 23-year-old builder was back at it again against Ngaruawahia, a clinical first-half finish from the edge of the area from Ben Van Der Salm's clever through-ball opening Tauranga's account.
Former player-coach Ian Stringfellow, who's dropped the coach moniker these days and is playing as a target-man up front, doubled Tauranga's lead early in the second half with a polished strike from a long Giuseppi Vassalini pass across the paddock.
But the floodgates, expected to fling open with City United making all of the play, swung unexpectedly the other way as Ngaruawahia found some rare fight and fluidity of their own, with Phil Ruggles ensuring an edge-of-the-seat climax in the final eight minutes as he got the jump on Tauranga's dozing defence to cut the gap to one.
But the players poured back in numbers, hoofing in desperation at anything Ngaruawahia threw at them. Whereas a few seasons ago they might have capitulated and let in a late goal, they held on for maximum points to stay unbeaten in the league, a couple back from pacesetters Mt Albert Ponsonby.
Wakelin left Tauranga four years ago to play for Hawke's Bay United in the national league under father-and-son coaching duo Bobby and Jonathon Gould, but has been out of the game for a couple of years.
Picked in a New Zealand squad to prepare for the Fifa under-20 World Cup in Canada, Wakelin was a controversial omission, admitting his hunger for the game from then on in waned.
"I sort of drifted away after that - I'd had enough and although I was only 20 I needed a break from the game. Looking back [missing] the under-20s was a big disappointment and hit me harder than I probably realised at the time."
Wakelin showed up back at Links Ave a few weeks ago with few plans other than to train and see where it led.
In his first week back Tauranga's Bay 1 league side was short of players so he filled in. Week two and it was the Federation team that needed propping up, so Wakelin obliged.
His rapid rise through the ranks was completed when he was called into the Northern League side, scoring in the 3-1 win in Orewa.
"There's a bit of a younger crew here from when I was last playing so it's good, even though I'm still only 23, to come back and show a bit of experience.
"I haven't kicked a ball in two years so the fitness is lacking, and I'm carrying a hamstring twinge too, but it's really good to be back on Links."
Wakelin was full of running on Saturday, complementing nicely the tireless effort put in by midfielder Isaac Bright, with old warhorse Geoff Rickard making a surprise return in defence alongside the imposing figures of Blair Cooper, Van Der Salm and Steve Smith.
Wakelin hit the crossbar early before his tidy strike from just inside the penalty area and feels he's only just getting started.
"There was a few other opportunities I could have done better with, but bagging a goal in each game I play is my new goal." Mt Albert Ponsonby's winning ways continued, with the division two league leaders easily downing Fencibles United 3-0 to remain at the top, two points clear of Tauranga.
The other teams in the top four all won on Saturday, with Hibiscus Coast getting past Western Springs 3-0 and North Shore United downing Papakura City 4-0.
Warkworth and Waiuku fought out a 1-1 draw, while Mangere United, Tauranga's opponents today, lashed Cambridge 8-1.