Tauranga City United coach Duncan Lowry says it's been a rollercoaster season for his team, and he predicts it will remain that way until the final match of the campaign.

His side are left with what many pundits would call an impossible equation – win their two remaining fixtures and score 11 goals in the process in order to finish in the top two of the Northern League First Division.

Tauranga City United winger and Northern League First Division top scorer Jerahl Hughes in action. Photo: File.

With his side set to meet bottom of the table Ngaruawahia United this weekend, Duncan jokes that he's already read rumours on a football social media site that he's tried to bribe the opposition coach.

'I know Matt Williams very well,” admits Duncan. 'I used to play football with and against Matt, when we were playing national league football.

'He's a proud young man and the last thing he would want to do is come over here and just roll over and get beaten. No footballer, and nobody in sport unless there is money involved, would lay down.

'According to a football forum, I've already been spotted having breakfast with him on Sunday and left a briefcase on the table!”

Tauranga City, with 40 points to their name, currently sit fifth with two matches in hand behind champions Forrest Hill-Milford United (51 points), North Shore United (46), Ellerslie (42) and Hibiscus Coast (42).

If the Blues can win their last two home games, they will be level on points with second-placed North Shore United.

However, North Shore currently have a plus-ten goal difference over the Mount Maunganui outfit – a deficit Lowry's boys will have to overcome if they're to have any chance of promotion to the Northern Premier League.

Duncan says while his players are aware of what needs to happen, first and foremost, they have to focus on trying to win both matches.

'That's what it's all about now,” he says. 'It's all about scoring goals. But before we score [the 11 goals] we have to win first.”

'This season alone there have been games won by 10 goals to nil, so it can be done.”

But his side will have to be consistent – something they have struggled with a little this season.

'In football, this has been the biggest rollercoaster ride I've ever been involved in,” admits Duncan.

'These last two weeks – God's honest truth – I've laughed, I've cried and I've scolded players. So it's going to be a rollercoaster right to the end.”

For the side to score the goals required, Duncan will look to his experienced players, such as right-winger Jerahl Hughes, who currently leads the golden boot table with 18 goals this season.

'But everyone has got to fire,” he admits, 'I can't just rest on one or two players. Each guy has to step up. It's the 11 that you pick that can determine what will happen on the field.”

Duncan says location will also contribute to the outcome. Their Links Avenue home has been something of a fortress and with the home crowd behind them, he hopes it will help spur the team on.

'We've done very, very well in the three years I've been in charge here,” he says. 'I think we've only lost four times at Links Avenue. So that's a remarkable record.”

And the coach is promising his side will go out fighting, right to the end.

'No matter what happens, it's been a rollercoaster ride and it will go down to the wire.”

Tauranga will play Ngaruawahia at Links Avenue, Mount Maunganui on Saturday, September 19, at 2.30pm. Their final match of the season, against Mangere United, will be played at the same venue the following Saturday (September 26) at 2pm.