Tikipunga and Kamo recorded hard-earned away wins to share the lead in the Northland Premier Football division after two rounds.
Tikipunga beat the only winner of the opening round, Kerikeri, 1-0 on Saturday in a tight match that saw defence dominate attack.
"The boys played really well. Playing away at Kerikeri is
never easy and to get three points up there was pretty pleasing," Tikipunga coach Clive Adams said.
Just after the quarter-hour mark, Josh Morunga took the ball into the Kerikeri box. He was forced wide by the advancing keeper but then turned smartly and chipped the ball into the net to score what turned out to be the only goal of the match.
Adams said the match was fairly even but Kerikeri threatened more off the quick break in the second spell. That led to the performance of the day for the travelling team from right fullback Chris Dunbar, who nullified the Kerikeri attack along the left flank.
Tikipunga also brought on one of their brighter prospects in the second spell, 15-year Paul Ruddle, who didn't look out of place at left fullback.
First half goals to Nathan Steel and Calvin Erick saw Kamo take an uneasy 2-0 lead into halftime at Morningside Park. FC goalkeeper Geoff Bigwood kept his side in the game by saving a Gavin Allen penalty in what may have been justice, after even Kamo coach Russell Baddeley called it a "dubious" decision.
FC Whangarei threw everything at the visitors in the second spell, pinning Kamo in their half for much of the spell in desperate defence.
Michael Crowley scored with 15 minutes to go to set up a thrilling finale, but in the end Kamo's back four won the accolades, central defender Peter Coates emerging as his side's player of the day.
In the other match, a goal in each half to Jake Mabbut left newly promoted Bream Bay still to register a point in the league after a 0-2 defeat by defending champions Onerahi.
