"No, I think that's how we've decided to play against Auckland - let them control possession and catch them when they give the ball away and lose their shape," said Bay United striker Hamish Watson who is fourth in the golden boot race on six goals, two behind pace setter Ben Harris (Team Wellington).
"I think we had a few chances today but their keeper's pulled off a few saves and, obviously, we've missed a few but we'll move on to the next round now, I guess," he said with the Bay travelling to Wellington this Saturday to play the Phoenix Reserves coming off a 3-1 loss to Canterbury United in Christchurch.
"I think we had just as many chances as they did, to be fair, but they are a little more clinical than us today and they finished their [passes with goals]."
Watson said it was imperative to focus on their own game.
"I think we're good enough to pick up enough points to get into the top four by the end of the season and, hopefully, push for the top two."
Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx was satisfied with claiming three points before hitting the highway back home.
"In the end they were pushing on and needed a result. They created two or three chances but, I think, overall we created a lot more chances than the three goals we had.
"We hung on to our position so we're very happy," Tribulietx said, enjoying the milder temperature here compared with the 31C at Kiwitea St last week.
The winners took only five minutes to make their intentions clear when striker Ryan de Vries crisply drilled the ball past goalkeeper Joshua Hill.
The reply came in the 27th minute when, through a defensive error, striker Sam Mason-Smith latched on to the ball about 30m out, surged into the box to draw another defender before deftly crossing to Watson on his right.
Auckland keeper Diego Rivas Rego did well to parry Watson's first drive but Watson made good the second time, 1-1.
The home fans' celebrations were muted only two minutes later when De Vries did justice to a Marko Dordevic through ball to restore City's lead, 2-1.
In the 33rd minute Micah Lea'alafa extended the lead to 3-1 but he appeared to be offside as Angell vented his spleen on fourth official Anthony Riley at the sidelines.
Fourteen minutes into the second half, Mason-Smith had a golden chance but keeper Rego was equal to the occasion with a brilliant save near the upright.
In the 71st minute, former Bay striker Nathan Hailemariam beat everyone, including himself, as his finish rolled across the face of the goalmouth.
Five minutes later, Watson had a one-on-one chance with the keeper but his finishing drew a collective groan from the crowd.
The game came to a brief halt after a head injury to Jesse Edge but Riley ordered City physio Matt Payne to leave the bench after he ran on to the pitch for the second time without permission to attend to players.
Said Tribulietx: "Look, he had a head injury and our pohysio had to go out there and that's life so I have nothing else to say."
The bay have dropped from second to fourth place, equal on 18 points but below Wellington who also had a 3-1 win.
