KEY POINTS:
The big three in the New Zealand Football Championship race are about to slam the door on their rivals chasing a spot in the play-offs.
Leaders Waitakere United picked up their 10th victory in 13 matches, a no frills 3-1 away win over Hawkes Bay, Auckland City shrugged off their demanding three-games-in-six-days schedule to outplay Canterbury United 2-0 and YoungHeart Manawatu bounced back yesterday from their limp showing against Waitakere to thump Waikato FC 5-2 in Palmerston North.
Canterbury were the disappointment. After a delayed start, they showed little at Kiwitea St, with an expected challenge coming to nought, against the well-organised City defence.
"The players have responded very well to the demanding schedule," said City coach Paul Marshall.
"We have kept playing our strongest team. This was a great result. Grant Young was into everything."
The 35-year-old, who played every minute of those three games which yielded seven of a possible nine points, was again inspirational. The blow for Marshall is that Young will almost certainly miss this weekend's Oceania League match in New Caledonia.
Marshall will, however, have Young's fellow South African striker Keryn Jordan on hand. Jordan expected back today after attending his father's funeral.
Ahead by a well-constructed goal scored by Paul Urlovic - after just 2m 14s, the home side took almost complete control in Saturday's match of the round. With luck they could have been up by four inside the half hour.
Instead their only other success came from the spot in the 72nd minute after United goalkeeper Adam Highfield had tangled with Grant Young as the ball dropped harmlessly in the penalty area. Young converted to ensure the points would be claimed by City who moved, for a day, into second place.
Waitakere, who left a player at the airport to allow extra fuel to be loaded into their chartered flight to Napier, went 2-0 ahead with Allan Pearce goals either side of halftime.
Substitute and former All White striker Mark Elrick netted a 30-metre dipper to close the gap in the 70th minute before, with 10 minutes to play, Commins Menapi swooped and beat Bay goalkeeper Mitch O'Brien to the ball played in by Pedro Santos to score.
The win, and subsequent results, left Waitakere four points clear of Manawatu at the top of the table.
Manawatu, needing to improve their form to show they are genuine contenders, responded well with their Solomon Islanders returning to their best with Alick Maemae and golden boot leader Benjamin Totori scoring two each at FMG Stadium.
Team Wellington, facing the slippery slide to oblivion, responded strongly. With Graham Little scoring twice as in the other three games, and there was a penalty involved.
Mick Waitt's Wellington beat Otago 5-1 away to move to within four points of fourth-placed Canterbury.
They will have to mark time however as their scheduled Saturday clash with Auckland City has been postponed until February 7.
