Wairarapa United scored two goals with 10 players on the paddock to beat defending champions Miramar Rangers 3-2 in a memorable Central League football clash at Dave Farrington Park, Miramar, on Saturday.
Up 1-0 at halftime through a Seule Soromon goal and still holding that margin going into the last quarter, Wairarapa United had the mortification of having outstanding defender Waisake Sabatu red carded for what was deemed to be a dangerous tackle.
To make matters worse Miramar Rangers goaled from the resulting penalty to draw level at 1-1.
However, the loss of a player seemed to spur Wairarapa United on to greater efforts and they hit back when Pita Rabo climbed high to head the ball home from a corner.
Wairarapa United 2, Miramar Rangers 1.
Minutes later, things were all square again with Miramar Rangers capitalising on a breakaway to make it 2-2 but Wairarapa United were not done.
Usual midfielder Dale Higham, playing at right fullback, made a long run that had the Miramar Rangers defence scattered and his cross was brilliantly headed into the back of the net by Esava Naqueleca to give Wairarapa United a 3-2 lead.
With six minutes to play the onus was now on Wairarapa United to keep a desperate Miramar Rangers at bay and with goalkeeper Phil Imray pulling off two spectacular saves they managed to achieve that objective.
Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley was almost lost for words when assessing the character and resolve of a Wairarapa United side guaranteed the league title if they beat Lower Hutt City at home and Napier City Rovers away in the last two of their competition games for the season.
"It was amazing ... the harder it got the harder they played," he said.
"That second half was something else. You would go a long way to see better football than that."
With the victory being built around teamwork it would seem unfair to single out any individuals for special mention but there is no question that Imray's heroics in the closing stages could become hugely important in Wairarapa United's title bid.
They now have 37 points, followed by Wellington Olympic 34, Napier City Rovers 33, Miramar Rangers 25, Petone 25, Lower Hutt City 22, Western Suburbs 15, Tawa 15, Wellington United 13 and Maycenvale United 4.
Complicating matters is Olympic have only one match to play, Wairarapa United have two, Napier City Rovers three and Miramar Rangers five, a situation that means all four sides still have a mathematical chance of either winning or sharing the premiership.
But, as mentioned previously, Wairarapa United can take all the possible equations out of play by winning both their last two games.