'We could have been top of the table,” says Duncan Lowry, coach of Tauranga City United AFC's premier team.

His boys were 2-1 up against Three Kings United yesterday, in Auckland, with five minutes to go in the game. But within those five minutes the game was lost, the Blues losing 3-2.

Determined to wipe out Saturday's loss Tauranga City players will face Melville United with plenty of gusto on Monday.

'Three Kings United are very quick up front,” says Duncan. The experienced premier division side turned the table on Tauranga in those final minutes.

'We played well,” says Duncan. 'We are learning to adapt quickly and be more defensive. We shouldn't have been beaten.

Tauranga was 1-0 down by halftime, but thanks to a quick action by Andrew Cooper the Blues equalised early in the second half. 'It was a mistake by the Three Kings goalie, really,” says Duncan. 'He sliced the ball and Coops caught it, sweeping it over the goalie's head into goal.

Twenty minutes later Jerahl Hughes launched the ball in front of goal and Nathan Farey headed the ball into goal at the far post.

With 5 minutes to go Three Kings hammered the Blues, to win 3-2.

On Anzac Day the Blues play at home against a Hamilton side they know reasonably well, Melville United and they will be hungry. 'We need a big score,” says Duncan.

The game is at Links Avenue, Reserve, Mount Maunganui and starts at 2.45 pm.