Hawke's Bay United rip apart Wellington

So, last week's shock upset against the league leaders Waitakere was no fluke.
Hawke's Bay United have done it again, beating Team Wellington 3-1 in the capital with a performance that belied their perennial ASB Premiership also-ran tag.
Quite frankly, they should have scored far more, and the relative closeness of the scoreline is down to an inability to kill off a woeful Wellington side and a lapse in concentration at the end of the second half.
For the first 45 minutes Hawke's Bay played like the Phoenix, while Wellington gave a decent impression of a Sunday League over-45s team.
Two wonder goals from teenage sensation Andy Bevin and one from veteran Chris McIvor sealed the three points that gives their hopes of competing in the play-offs for the first time a massive boost.
But they may be concerned about how a Wellington team who had barely made a foray into the penalty area, got a goal back on 89 minutes to level the match. Nevertheless, it did galvanise a defiant Bay, who notched a goal back a minute-and-a-half later, then a third deep into injury time.
Coach Matt Chandler said his side did exactly what they had done in last weekend's stirring 2-1 win in west Auckland.
"We scored just after halftime, which mirrored what we did last week, we conceded a late goal, which we did a week ago, and we responded again with the winning goal. The one thing we did better was to score again."
"We may not be the best team in the league but have an amazing belief in our own abilities and there were some excellent performances today, led by a couple of the old boys, Chris McIvor and Jonathan Taylor. Jarrod Smith's work-rate was phenomenal, and while he didn't score, he made a lot of things happen for us.
"I would also hail Andy Bevin for his attacks, while Tom Biss had a good game against a very dynamic George Barbarouses. But, from one to 11, plus the subs, this team played exceptional football."
This cohesiveness and commitment ensured goalkeeper Richard Gillespie had a quiet day, which was just as well as he played with a dislocated finger.
"This is a team that is coming into form at the right time and it's important that we take that into the match against Waikato at home (next weekend)," Chandler said.
Hawke's Bay made their presence felt from the off, Smith and Bevin driving at the Wellington side, and creating chances for themselves and others; Smith coming closest with a header that Phil Imray fumbled before scooping off the line.
As much as they dominated, Bay couldn't put the ball away, a weakness exemplified by Taylor blasting high from close range despite being unmarked and Smith missing a sitter, from even closer.
Three minutes after the restart, Bevin waltzed into the penalty box and slammed home into the far-right corner. Smith again missed a great chance, hitting twice at Imray; Scott Gunnon hit the post; and it wasn't until well after the hour mark that the home side had a decent chance on goal.
Then, with a minute of normal time to go, Emiliano Tade soared to head over Gillespie.
And that seemed to be that. This writer was preparing to bemoan how a side that were so dominant had to return to Napier with a solitary point.
But Chris McIvor wasn't happy to settle for such crumbs, slipping the ball past Imray from close range and sparking a mass run to the dugout to celebrate.
And then, with 94 minutes gone, Bevin drifted to the corner flag to try to wind down the clock, but managed to squeeze past three defenders then score from a tight angle.
And in between those two goals, Wellington's Hicham Kamri needlessly got involved in a scuffle between Taylor and Tade, receiving a red card after pushing Taylor to the ground.
With Canterbury also winning yesterday, against Otago, Hawke's Bay remain fourth but are now just five points behind Team Wellington.
In the weekend's other match, Waitakere beat Waikato 6-1.