Luckily ahead after being out-played in the first half, Waitakere United found something closer to their championship-winning form of last season in the second spell to beat injury-ravaged Auckland City in their catch-up New Zealand Football Championship match at Kiwitea St last night.
Ahead 2-0 after 90 minutes,United then gave up a late goal and had to withstand a couple of anxious extra minutes before taking their second win of the season.
City dominated from the start only to be repeatedly thwarted by Waitakere goalkeeper Richard Gillespie, who pulled off a series of saves he had no right to make.
On attack from the first whistle, the home side forced five corners to none in the first half but only from the last did they threaten to undo the United defence. Again, Gillespie was somehow in the right place to deny Milos Nikolic from right in front.
But, as is often the case, one clear chance at the other end gave United the lead against the run of play.
Paul Seaman was brought down just outside the City penalty area. While Jeff Campbell might have been expected to step forward, he gave way to Allan Pearce, who deftly curled the ball over the defensive wall and away from Ross Nicholson's gloves into the top of the net.
Nikolic, Keryn Jordan, Liam Mulrooney all created half-decent scoring chances but could not beat the magical Gillespie.
Injuries to Jordan, James Pritchett and Riki Van Steeden - after a yellow-card tackle from Seaman - forced City coach Colin Tuaa to go to his bench three times in the opening 55 minutes.
The visitors, led by strong games from Neil Emblen and Jonathan Perry at the heart of the United defence, were rarely tested in the second spell by a City attack which lacked the pace to ever stretch them.
Waitakere created chances for Pearce, Roy Krishna and substitute Daniel Koprivcic but could not add to their tally until the 84th minute when Koprivcic gathered, took two touches, turned Sam Campbell and angled his shot away from Nicholson for 2-0.
In the first minute of added time, City gave the home support some hope of snatching a late point when a Ki-Hung Lee freekick was not cleared and Matt Williams pounced to finally beat Gillespie.
The win allowed United to join City in second place - three points behind leaders YoungHeart Manawatu but with Waitakere having a game in hand.
