Tauranga City United hosted Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers in an exhilarating game of football on Saturday. The home team, placed second on the BOP division one table, started out strongly and shot out to an early lead. A raid down their left finished with the cross being well volleyed into the Rangers goal. Five minutes later United were further ahead, when they managed to outnumber the defence and score with ease. However the one-way traffic ended there, Rangers created some delightful flowing football through the midfield and had the home defence under the cosh. Ben McPherson shot over the top, Cameron Wills was put through for a one-on-one attempt, then McPherson was provided with the same chance and scored. More pressure, with good work from Richie Nillesen and James Mitchell brought Rangers a corner. McPherson drove it across and captain Christian Wetting headed it powerfully into the net. Rangers kept their foot on the gas, a McPherson free kick was finished off by Mitchell calmly picking his way through the crowded penalty area to put the ball away. Mitchell also had a one-on-one chance before the half ended. At half time Rangers had the turned the two goal deficit around to a 3 - 2 lead.
Rangers knew the United team would not accept their position easily, and so it proved. Two of their strikers played some good one-twos to get through the centre of the Rangers defence and scored fairly early in the second half. Rangers kept pressing forward and the chances kept coming. McPherson had a one-on-one saved, Wetting hit a superb curling shot that hit the cross bar and Mitchell had a shot saved and he hit the post as well. Somehow the home team survived and even put their own pressure back on in the final part of the game. Paul Inglis held the Rangers defence together well to the end, the final score being Tauranga City United 3, Plains Rangers 3.
Christian Wetting was named Rangers' player of the day. He set the example to his team with a ninety minute performance in the centre midfield. The game was played in excellent competitive spirit, a credit to the players and referee Ian Boult.