Football: Tauranga City AFC defeat Ellerslie to move up table

Tauranga City put pressure on the Ellerslie goal. Photo / Supplied

Tauranga City AFC carved out a vital 2-1 win over Ellerslie on Saturday at Links Ave.

The victory moved the Blues above Ellerslie in the table, having played the same number of games.

The first half was a tight affair as Tauranga played into a stiff breeze. Both teams moved the ball around with purpose, with the final pass lacking as Tauranga fashioned the better of the chances from Luke Woolerton, Jay Silcock, Andy Carter and Riley Bidois.

At the other end, keeper Tommy Pamment was only called into action from a stray back pass and collecting an overhit through-ball for the first 19 minutes. A free kick given away just outside the penalty area gave Ellerslie an opening and Art Twigg reacted quickest to open the scoring after 19 minutes.

In the 37th minute, Tauranga equalised through an own goal as the Ellerslie keeper fumbled an Andy Carter corner into his net.

As the second half got under way, Tauranga maintained possession well as they worked the ball around the park. Luke Woolerton got an early chance as he battled for a 50/50 in the box with it falling his way but was unable to get his lob on target.

The ball was moving well as Tauranga pushed for a second goal with nice interplay between Jonny Routledge, Sam O'Reagan and Carter as they probed for openings.

From a punt out by Pamment, Riley Bidois secured possession in the box, turned his man and made for the byline with the resulting pullback letting Jay Silcock turn and finish to make it 2-1 in the 84th minute.

The last minutes were tense as Tauranga closed the game out for the vital three points.

■Tauranga City AFC 2 ( OG 37', Jay Silcock 84') Ellerslie AFC (Art Twigg 19')