Football: Relief as United off the mark

Jerahl Hughes set up goal and looked dangerous down the right-hand side for WaiBOP United.

WaiBOP United, in the guise at times of Tauranga City United, have opened their account in the ASB Premiership with a 3-1 win over Wanderers SC at Mount Maunganui's Links Avenue.

The comfortable win was badly needed after a stilted beginning to the season featuring byes and one-goal losses to Canterbury United and Team Wellington, and it was a familiar duo who set them on their way in the opening 10 minutes.

Tauranga City United skipper Sam O'Regan set Links Avenue alight after just three minutes when he powered in a header from a well-placed corner. Seven minutes later a clever run down the right from fellow Tauranga City standout Jerahl Hughes ended in a cutback and powerful left-footed Chad Coombes strike from just outside the area.

The home side failed to make further opportunities count in a first half in which the Wanderers, featuring a collection of the best under-19 talent in the country, slowly began to find their feet.

The two-goal advantage lasted until just after the hour mark when Liam Higgins finished off a move which saw Coombes and Federico Marquez combine well.

Clayton Lewis pulled one back for the visitors late, but it was nothing more than consolation as they fell to their fifth consecutive loss to the start of the season.

WaiBOP United coach Peter Smith was upbeat about his side's start and pleased his players were beginning to implement lessons learned on the training pitch.

"We spoke about that - in the games Wanderers have played they've scored goals in the first 20 minutes and put teams under pressure ... obviously we got a dream start in the first few minutes with Sam scoring in the header was nice," he said.

Smith said it was vital the side picked up some points after back-to-back losses to start the season, and was pleased the local players had delivered in front of their home fans.

"We spoke about the need to win your home games. We really put emphasis on that and coming out today we had to get some points in the bag.

"It was good to see Sam get a goal and Jerahl could have had one early on. They were highly effective in the way we played. I think we are a different side to last year."