By TERRY MADDAFORD
University Mt Wellington's 3-0 win over Christchurch City yesterday was some way short of their better efforts this season, but there was still plenty to celebrate after the game.
The news from Napier that the home side had managed only a 1-0 win over Waitakere City confirmed the Clive Campbell-coached University Mt Wellington side as winners of the Ansett national club championship league round and guaranteed them the easier path to next month's final.
"They needed a bonus point to have any chance of catching us," Campbell said. "Now we know we can't be headed we can concentrate on the playoffs knowing we have a home game against the fourth team."
The battle to find that fourth team - Napier are assured of second and Dunedin Technical are almost certain to finish third - will provide most interest in Sunday's final round.
Waitakere will take a one-point advantage over Manawatu United and Nelson Suburbs into their home game against Central United, while Manawatu are at home to University Mt Wellington and Nelson play Napier in Nelson.
At the other end of the table, Metro (at home) will need to beat Dunedin Technical by four goals - to earn a bonus point - to have any chance of climbing ahead of Christchurch City and avoid playing the cut-throat relegation series.
Central rid themselves of any such worries with one of their better efforts of the season - a 4-0 home win over Manawatu yesterday.
Goals to Noah Hickey and Bruce Hill had Central ahead at halftime. Hickey added his second soon after the interval and Miro Major finished the rout from the penalty spot.
Waitakere felt they were a little hard-done-by when they went down for the second time in as many games in Napier.
A linesman's ruling of handball when Paul Stephens appeared to be hit harmlessly on the shoulder handed veteran striker Martin Akers the opportunity to score the only goal of the match from the penalty spot.
Later, at the other end of the pitch, the other linesman ruled offside when the visitors thought that they had snatched the equaliser.
University Mt Wellington rarely hit top gear but they were always going to beat a disappointing Christchurch side.
Captain Paul Bunbury opened the scoring in the 15th minute. He carved through and hit a good ball from Jeff Campbell wide of goalkeeper Adam Highfield and into the net. At the same stage of the second spell, Sean Armstrong got his head to the ball and found Nick Hyde who smacked home a screamer from the edge of the penalty area for his first goal of the season.
The home side continued to press but had nothing more to show for their efforts until eight minutes from time when Marc Hicks, with his first touch after entering the game as a substitute, rode the challenges before beating Highfield for his second goal of the season.
Miramar beat Metro in Wellington with a goal by Nic Longley in the 28th minute and a second-half strike from Gary Minshull.
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