The Blues copped their first loss of the season at home against Birkenhead United.

While the final score was 2-1, no Tauranga City United player can brag about scoring a goal as a shot at goal from one of them was reflected off a defender before it slipped into the net behind the Birkenhead goalie.

Jerahl Hughes makes his way towards the Birkenhead goal line. Photo: Cameron Avery.

Coach Duncan Lowry isn't too fuzzed about the Sunday afternoon loss.

'I have no complaints about the way the game went. We played against a very good club that is very well coached,” he says. 'Actually, we were lucky with this score.”

The Blues were down 1-0 at half time. When the score was one all thanks to the visitors' unwitting own goal and fifteen minutes before time Birkenhead was down to ten men.

Colm Kenny tackled an opposition player, who took exception and punched Colm in return, resulting in the Birkenhead player being sent off.

Having only ten defenders didn't help Tauranga as Birkenhead was fired up enough to bag yet another goal a few minutes later.

'We can learn from this game,” says Lowry. 'You learn by making mistakes and our boys fought back. They were a bit quiet afterwards, but this is a high fire competition where you cannot afford to make too many mistakes.

'Everyone is eager to play better and better and it will hopefully get easier for us as we gain experience in the Premier Division. I really love their passion for the game,” says Lowry.

On Saturday the team plays in Auckland against Western Springs.

'There are no weak teams in this league,” says Lowry. 'We need to take every chance we get and we won't get many.”