Tauranga City United kept their winning start to the season intact with a 2-1 victory over North Shore on Good Friday.

A first-half double from midfielder Andrew Carter put the home side in control in the Mount Maunganui sunshine, and despite conceding after the break, the Blues hung on to claim their second win in six days.

Tauranga City United's players celebrate after going 2-0 up against North Shore. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

The Links Avenue crowd were treated to the perfect start in the seventh minute, when some good combination play down the right lead to United's opener.

Irish striker Colm Kenny held the ball up well and found Jerahl Hughes, who got away from his marker before crossing for Carter to steer the ball into the top corner from close range.

The visitors were almost level just a minute later when Andrew Cowell's shot smacked against the post before falling to Reid Drake, who saw his effort hacked off the line with the goal gaping.

United came close to doubling their lead in the 27th minute when Kenny forced a magnificent stop from North Shore keeper Sam Copp after good work from right-back Sam Nahna.

But their persistence paid off three minutes later when Carter grabbed his second of the game in familiar circumstances.

Hughes was once again instrumental in the build up, trading passes with Kenny from a corner before skipping to the by-line and crossing for the 20-year-old to steer the ball home.

Any thoughts of a comfortable second-half, however, were put to bed just seven minutes after the restart.

The home side's defence were caught napping, and when Jaryd Gray found himself one-on-one with Tom Pamment, the forward kept his cool before slipping the ball through the goalkeeper's legs to make it 2-1.

And as the game entered the final stages, the woodwork came to Tauranga's rescue once more when Gray rounded Pamment with just three minutes left – only to see his shot bounce off the outside of the post.

Striker Colm Kenny was singled out for praise by United coach Duncan Lowry.

After the game, United coach Duncan Lowry admitted his side had tried to shut up shop after the break, but he was ultimately pleased with the three points.

'We tried to pull the shutters down,” said Lowry. 'We went with two holding-midfielders and we've got a big, strong back four, so we let them try and break us down.

'When you're 2-0 up at half-time, is the game over? It should be at this level, so it was up to the other team to be smart enough to break us down and they weren't.

'I don't care how we get the three points because in this league you have to fight and scrap for everything.

'I'm well pleased with the win against one of the big Auckland teams and against (North Shore coach) Paul Temple, who'll probably go on to coach the New Zealand national side at some point.”

On the performance of his attacking players, he added: 'Colm up front was as strong as an ox, and that strength allowed Jerahl and Andrew Cooper to play off him.”

And on matchwinner Carter, Lowry said: 'He looks the part. I had him over at Matamata a few years ago and it was me that sent him over to Caloundra in Australia.

'But as soon as I knew he was back I went in for him straight away. I have no doubts about him – he's a footballer.

'He doesn't have to beat players. There's no step-overs or ‘around the worlds' from him, and he took his goals very well.”

Lowry's men have just two days to recover before their next Northern League First Division clash against Mangere United in South Auckland on Easter Monday.