Belvedere Group Tauranga City United took a big step towards taking the Northern League 2nd Division title on Saturday when they defeated West Auckland side Oratia United 2-1 away.
With the defeat of their nearest rival Forrest Hill-Milford, who went down 2-1 at Papakura, the Blues now have a seven-point lead at the top of the table with five games remaining.
The win did not come easy, however, as the visitors took a while to get into the game.
They looked flat and off the pace, which let Oratia take advantage and the lead after only six minutes. Captain Sam O'Regan's mistimed tackle in the penalty box left the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
Stu Roberts sent Tauranga keeper Tom Pamment the wrong way to put his side one up.
O'Regan redeemed himself midway through the half, again from the spot, when man of the moment Jerahl Hughes was brought down. His thunderbolt penalty gave the Oratia keeper no chance.
The Blues were glad to go in at halftime with the scores even as it had not been one of their stellar performances.
Coach Duncan Lowry, back at the helm following a trip back to Northern Ireland to celebrate a family wedding, obviously knows what it takes to get his side up, as they looked far better in the second spell.
They were able to play the game they like, getting the ball moving across the pitch and out to the wide danger men.
Despite their dominance, and five clear-cut chances to seal the match, the longer the game went on the more it looked like it was going to be another one of those games.
That was until the last minute when Hughes, who had tormented his marker all through the second half, got put through from a ball over the top by Josh Nelson.
He skinned the defender once again, got around the keeper and squared the ball to Andrew Cooper to slot home.
An Oratia defender got back but a desperate hand ball was all he could do to stop the ball going into the net.
O'Regan had little problem in dispatching the resulting penalty.
The win has virtually guaranteed the Blues promotion to the 1st Division next season but with the winning line in sight there is a solid determination to go up as champions.
This Sunday they play their penultimate home game against mid-table Fencibles United at Links Avenue.
Tauranga City United 2 (Sam O'Regan 2) Oratia United 1 (Stu Roberts)