NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – BOIL-OVER DELAYS WAITAKERE&039;S TITLE CELEBRATIONS

Super sub Stu Watene was the hero for the home side, coming on in the 83rd minute and scoring five minutes later to complete a comeback that began with former Waitakere defender – and now Waikato captain – Graham Pearce stabbing the ball home from close range with just 14 minutes remaining.

Waitakere – who still have one game in hand over everyone but YoungHeart Manawatu – had already booked a place in the top four playoffs with victory over Otago on Waitangi Day and when Benjamin Totori’s classy solo-effort gave them a 61st minute lead, sealing league honours with three games to spare looked a real possibility.

Instead, Waitakere’s year-long unbeaten league run ends at 20 matches, and the champions remain on 26 points, three away from clinching the minor premiership and a place in next year’s O-League.

Auckland City closed the gap to the leaders to five points with a resounding 3-0 over Manawatu at Kiwitea Street, while in Christchurch, Hawke’s Bay United dispatched Canterbury United 4-0 to move up to third on 19 points, ahead of Waikato on goal difference.

Manawatu slip to fifth on 18 points, just one ahead of Team Wellington who continued their late bid for a semi-final spot by beating Otago United 4-2 in Dunedin.

Amidst sapping heat at all four venues, goals were initially hard to come and Greig Henslee’s 7th minute strike for Hawke’s Bay against Canterbury was the only first half goal in Sunday’s action.

However Hawke’s Bay changed gears after the break to run away with the points, with Andrew Abba pouncing on a defensive error to double the lead six minutes into the half with goals from Chris Davies and Graham Fyfe completing a comfortable victory.

Auckland’s victory over YoungHeart was also built on a second half onslaught, with Milos Nikolic, Paul Urlovic and Matt Friel all scoring in a devastating 10 minute spell that took the game firmly away from the visitors and completed a successful long weekend for Auckland after beating Hawke’s Bay on Waitangi Day.

In Dunedin, six goals were scored in a furious final 25 minutes, with Peter Halstead and Andy Barron scoring in quick succession to get Wellington underway.

The visitors looked comfortable when Luis Corrales struck in the 76th minute, and although quick fire goals from Otago’s Stu Kelly and Barry Gardiner closed the gap with five minutes left, a late penalty to golden-boot leader Corrales – scored on the rebound after his first effort was saved by Liam Little – ensured Wellington’s playoff hopes live on for another week.

Next Saturday, Auckland are back on O-league duty, entertaining Port Vila Sharks, while YoungHeart Manawatu welcome Waikato FC in a match crucial to both team’s playoff aspirations. Waitakere get a second bite at the minor premiership cherry in the weekend’s other NZFC fixture, with a Sunday visit to Napier to take on Hawke’s Bay.