Click the image above to view slideshow

WaiBOP United registered their first win of the ASB Premiership season on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Wanderers SC at Links Avenue in Mt Maunganui.

The home side, who suffered narrow defeats in their first two matches of the campaign, got off to the perfect start against the visitors, who were also searching for their first points of the new season.

Federico Marquez (right) played a vital role for the home side, and had a hand in United's third goal. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Tauranga product Sam O'Regan headed the hosts in front inside three minutes and with the Wanderers still absorbing that early blow, Chad Coombes powered home WaiBOP's second just seven minutes later.

That two-goal advantage was added to just after the hour mark when Liam Higgins finished off a move which saw Coombes and Federico Marquez combine well.

Wanderers pulled one back with 15 minutes to go when Clayton Lewis rifled home after a swift counter attack, but it couldn't prevent the North Harbour outfit falling to their fifth consecutive defeat.

With the team's first points on the board, WaiBOP United coach Peter Smith is pleased the side's hard work in training was translated on the pitch on match day.

'It was a good result,” he said, 'and the boys played well. 'It was a good performance as well as the result.

'We've been working on moving the ball around and getting players comfortable to knock it around. Today you saw us moving the ball around and probing away and I was pleased with the way that we moved the ball and the point of play.

'Across the whole of the team everybody worked hard and I think that was the big plus today - everybody contributed to the performance. Even the lads who came off the bench kept that standard high.”

Wanderers SC coach Darren Bazeley says the lack of concentration in the opening 10 minutes again proved costly.

'We talk and talk about keeping it tight early on in the game and that's now three games in five that we're 2-0 down after 20 minutes,” says Bazeley.

'We've looked at it, we've worked on it and it's happened again today so from that point of view it's really disappointing. It's tough for teams to chase games at 2-0 down and being honest it wasn't a great performance from us.”

Bazeley attempted to shift the momentum just after the half hour mark, making a triple substitution which called Mario Ilich, Judd Baker and Gowan Stares into the action.

But despite an improvement in energy and Lewis' second half effort, the visitors could get no closer as WaiBOP United closed out the contest.

The result moves WaiBOP onto three points along with the Wellington Phoenix Development side, while wanders SC remain at the bottom without a point.

Auckland City FC lead the way after four rounds with a perfect 12 point record.