Tauranga City United have the chance to impress the fans and register back-to-back wins on home turf this Easter weekend when North Shore United visit Links Ave on Good Friday.

After winning their opening fixture of this year's Northern League Division One campaign away to Hibiscus Coast last Saturday, the Blues will be buoyed ahead of tomorrow's clash, which gets underway at 2.45pm.

Tauranga City United players Sam Nahna, Raymond How, and Nathan Farey at Links Avenue. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Thanks to new recruit Colm Kenny's goal, the Bay of Plenty outfit secured a 1-0 victory – something which made the three-and-a-half hour journey home more enjoyable, according to coach Duncan Lowry.

'It's a beautiful part of the world,” admitted Lowry, 'but it's always nice to come back with three points in your back pocket.

'It makes the return home all that quicker and easier when you don't have to reflect on what went wrong.”

Despite losing defenders Sam O'Regan and Mark van der Salm during the close season, United have retained the majority of their Division Two-winning squad, and have welcomed new recruits in the shape of Connor Dunne, Andrew Carter, Campbell Higgins and Dean Styles, as well as Irish striker Kenny.

And Lowry has been impressed with how the side made the step up in week one after storming to promotion last term.

'Our keeper Tommy Pamment made four big saves, but in saying that, we missed several chances,” he says.

'They did what they were asked to do. We set up to score and we couldn't have asked for a better result.

'Sometimes the first game is hit and miss because no matter what you do in pre-season, it's not the same as a competitive match.”

Good Friday's clash will be an even bigger test for United after the North Harbour side routed Manurewa United 4-0 to grab top spot in the table.

Lowry says their opponents are a youthful side, with an average age of about 19, but his charges know if they can secure wins across the Easter period they will be in a strong position.

Following tomorrow's match, the Blues travel to Mangere on Monday.

'So we are at home on Friday and away on Monday,” ads Lowry. 'Both teams at the moment are top of the league and hopefully, by Monday, when we go to press we will be top of the league.

'Everybody wants to show off in front of their family and fans. It's always nice to play in our own backyard.”

Matchday two of Northern League Division One, between Tauranga City United and North Shore United, is at Links Avenue, Mount Maunganui from 2.45pm on Good Friday.