KEY POINTS:
Waitakere United coach Steve Cain is refusing to talk about a home grand final despite his team's 3-1 win over season-long contenders YoungHeart Manawatu at Trusts Stadium yesterday.
Manawatu and Auckland City are the only other teams now in contention for the New Zealand Football Championship finals after
Canterbury's 2-1 home loss to Team Wellington on Saturday.
Auckland City beat Waikato FC 2-0 at Links Ave yesterday.
At the other end of the table, Hawkes Bay hauled themselves up from the bottom with a 2-1 away win over Otago United.
Meanwhile Cain is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
"Until we get the points we need, we have got nothing," he said as his players celebrated three-from-three over Manawatu this season.
"We will approach next week's game [away to Hawkes Bay] just as we have every game this season."
Cain's only let-down was in conceding a goal to the visitors - the first they have given up against Shane Rufer's side.
"That was disappointing, giving away a sloppy goal like that," said Cain. "We were the better team."
Cain could point to a solid defensive effort with George Suri again stepping up and relishing the chance to play regularly alongside captain Danny Hay.
While goalkeeper Michael Utting - preferred ahead of Simon Eaddy - had little to do, he frustrated many by slowing play down and with wayward distribution too often booted to towering Manawatu defender Trent Watson or slewing off his left foot.
After two calls for a penalty fell on the deaf ears of Palmerston North-based referee Matt Conger, Waitakere took the lead in the 33rd minute when Allan Pearce, along with Suri the standout on the day, cleverly broke through the Manawatu defence.
He crossed to Commins Menapi who headed the ball into the top right corner.
The visitors hit back nine minutes later when the United defence were caught flat-footed and golden boot Benjamin Totori charged and slotted.
Two goals in the opening nine minutes after the break sealed it for the home side.
Pearce was justly rewarded for his continued good work when he slammed a left-foot shot into the side netting with a cracking shot which gave goalkeeper Phil Imray no chance.
Menapi then ran on to a Jeff Campbell through ball, set himself, and fired home for 3-1. With no more goals and few even half chances for either side, Waitakere coasted home to retain their unbeaten home record this season.
Auckland were given a flying start when Paul Urlovic scored after just five minutes against Waikato.
He then blew a late first half chance to double the lead when, with Grant Young on the bench and Keryn Jordan not at the game, he continued City's woeful recent record from the penalty spot by missing what would have been his seventh goal of the season.
Jonathan Smith, handed a rare start, did get that vital second goal 10 minutes into the second half and City went on to take the points without further drama.