Football: Draw leaves Tauranga in third place

Jerahl Hughes of Tauranga City United.

Belvedere Tauranga City United had a rare home game at Links Ave yesterday but missed a golden opportunity to close to within one point of Northern League First Division leaders North Shore United.

North Shore's shock 1-4 home defeat to third-placed Forrest Hill Milford on Saturday meant the Blues had to beat Manurewa to retain second.

However, that did not eventuate with Tauranga twice coming from a goal down to settle for a 2-2 draw that was a case of two points dropped rather than one earned.

Tauranga dominated the game to such an extent there was very little for goalkeeper Tom Pamment to do except pick the ball out of his own net twice.

His opposite, Jarad Karam, faced an onslaught of attacking raids into his penalty box but the final crucial finish was lacking time after time.

Blues' star wingman Jerahl Hughes hit the post with an angled shot after five minutes before a rejuvenated Josh Nelson opened up another chance for Hughes that Karam did well to keep out.

Manurewa had scored a league low of just five goals compared to 24 by Tauranga going into the game but opened the scoring thanks to the speed, determination and fine finish of striker Mulowa Sikonga - and a rash charge out of his goal by Pamment.

Nelson settled Tauranga's nerves in the 17th minute with a fine finish to make it 1-1 and probably should have scored a minute later after some more Hughes trickery in the box.

Tauranga had a strong wind behind them in the second half and seemed certain to pull away as they laid siege to Manurewa's goal. But with their first attacking raid of the half Manurewa went 2-1 up through good following up by Paul Edgar after Pamment could not hold a shot.

As time ticked away tension rose as Tauranga became increasingly desperate.

Finally with 10 minutes left Hughes rushed on to a clever header from Colm Kenny and buried the equaliser in style.

Somehow Manurewa held on for a well-earned point and Tauranga slipped back to third place with 12 more games left to claim one of the two promotion spots.

Belvedere Tauranga City United 2 (Josh Nelson 17', Jerahl Hughes 80') Manurewa AFC 2 (Mulowa Sikonga 10', Paul Edgar 57')

-In Northern League Second Division action, AFC Fury lost 2-1 away to leaders Papakura City yesterday. Defender Santiago Gadea scored Fury's goal.