TOP of the table Ngongotaha AFC's players triumphantly congratulated one another when the final whistle sounded on Saturday.
The only unbeaten side in the WaiBOP Premiership beat Katikati FC Ambria 3-0 at Stembridge Road, thanks to patient build-up play and clinical finishing in windy conditions.
Mitchell Miller, the Premiership's top
scorer, made two decisive early contributions followed by an Alan Ferguson "special" in the second half. Miller, who has
scored 28 goals for his club this season, was happy to be on the score sheet once again but was frustrated not to complete a hat-trick.
"It was important to get the two early goals and after that it seemed like the game was done and dusted," he said.
"But it was difficult playing against their defence. I wanted to get a third goal and had some opportunities but it just didn't go that way for me today.
"Their keeper made some great saves and if it wasn't for him I think we could
have put a lot more past them."
Ngongotaha took an early lead in the second minute of the game when Miller smashed the ball low into the right-hand corner from close range after being released by an excellent Josh O'Sullivan through ball.
Miller then doubled his tally four minutes later-crashing a Ferguson-drilled cross high into the net.
The home side continued to dominate possession with captain Dave Haua impressing in the back-line and distributing the ball well.
And Haua could have extended his side's lead in the 12th minute of the game but his header from a corner went just wide of the right post. Katikati stuck to a defensive structure, giving Ngongotaha keeper James Towers little to do in the first half.
And the away side's only real opportunity fell to striker Grant Purcell who shot straight at Towers after a weaving run - set up from a rare Ngongotaha defensive lapse.
Miller could have completed a hat-trick after 26 minutes but he shot straight at keeper Rohan Blyde who superbly saved another Miller strike six minutes later - palming the ball away with a strong right glove.
Katikati started the stronger of the two sides after the break and could have pulled a goal back if it wasn't for an excellent Towers save soon after the restart.
Ngongotaha found it hard to break down their opponents and with frustration mounting midfielder Yamil Casas was yellow-carded for a cynical tackle on a Katikati player.
But Harlem Simiona continued to look dangerous in midfield - seeing a tight angled shot sail over the bar and left back Connor Hinz fired a low, long range free kick effort into Blyde's gloves.
With the game fizzling out the hosts brought on substitute Luke Barker - who made an immediate impact with darting runs and clinical passing. And it was Barker who surged down the left wing, laid it across to Simiona who set the ball up for Ferguson to smash home, into the bottom left corner, from 23m out.
"I've had so many shots this year so one of them was bound to go in," said Ferguson.
Katikati coach Nic Millichip wasn't too disappointed with the result and praised the way in which Ngongotaha won.
"There was great discipline from the boys. I thought they stuck to the game plan very well," he said.
"Ngongotaha have always got a good style and have built up a strong pattern of play over the last few seasons. They have some very quick players and they move to the
ball quickly."
Ngongotaha lead the table on 37 points after 13 games, with a six-point cushion over second placed Matamata Swifts.
Rotorua secured back-toback wins in the Premiership, beating Tauranga City 4-0 away, thanks to double strikes from Ash Gower-Rudman and Jason Walker.