Papamoa FC's increasing frustrations in front of goal continued on Saturday following a 0-0 draw with Tauranga Blue Rovers in Greerton.

Under clear skies, and amid some bitterly cold temperatures, Duncan Lowry's men failed to break the deadlock despite applying some concerted pressure at Pemberton Park, and have now scored just once in their last four league outings.

The visitors were forced into making three changes ahead of the Loaded Waibop Premiership clash, with new signing Cole Peverley unavailable for selection and Andrew Cooper and Isaac Bright ruled out through injury.

A reshaped five-man midfield saw Papamoa have the better of the early exchanges, but not for the time this season, a rigid game-plan and some resolute defending from the opposition hindered their progress.

And when they did manage to breach the Rovers' back-line, they met a goalkeeper in fine form.

Boss Lowry said: 'They had a game plan to stop us playing our normal, free-flowing, attacking game.

'I felt we attacked relentlessly in the first-half, but it just wasn't our day. Once again we came up against a goalkeeper who is at the top of his game.

'But in the end, Rovers ended the second-half on top, and could easily have snatched all three points with a couple of minutes to go.”

Papamoa coach Andy Birchenough added: 'We lacked a finish out there. Rovers' tactics were not pretty, but they were certainly effective.

'They set up to stop us, and they cheered every clearance as though it was a winning goal.”

This coming weekend sees Papamoa host two home games in three days, with top-four rivals Melville visiting Gordon Spratt Reserve on Saturday, June 2 (2:45pm kick-off) before the Chatham Cup clash with Bay Olympic on Monday, June 4 (2pm kick-off).

Papamoa FC (3-5-2):Ryan Foord; Campbell Higgins, James Davies, Phillip Fletcher; Fawwaz Ali, Top Khamwanthong, Dean Styles, Alex Wilson, Mitchell Hales; Dave Molloy, Strauss Boom. Subs:Liam Molloy, Mathew De Bono, Elijah Welch.