KEY POINTS:
Normal transmission has resumed at the top of the New Zealand Football Championship.
A stunning 5-1 away win, including an Allan Pearce hat-trick, over previously unbeaten Team Wellington in yesterday's catch-up game rocketed Waitakere United into second place a point behind perennial rivals Auckland City.
It brought Christmas cheer for United coach Chris Milicich and his players who have struggled to shrug off the distractions of their trip to Japan earlier in the month.
"We have scored 12 goals in our last three NZFC games and conceded only two," said Milicich after United had taken the lead after just six minutes at Newtown Park and went to the break 3-1 ahead. "We changed our tactics to suit their style of play. It worked a treat."
One of those changes was not to play his Solomon Islanders Benjamin Totori and Commins Menapi in tandem.
"We decided to play one at a time, and it worked," said Milicich.
"We wanted to create set piece opportunities and take it from there. Last time we played them we played in 22 crosses and scored one goal. It was a different story this time."
On chances created, the home side, who had captain Andy Barron and Daniel Ellensohn back from injury and Brazilian Caue Benicio on debut, were well ahead. Where it counted - on the scoreboard - they trailed dismally.
Scoring goals either side of halftime proved decisive for the visitors. Pearce, who got the final touch when a Neil Sykes corner was not cleared, gave United their early lead.
He added his second just before the break when he caught the Team Wellington defence napping. In between times Jonathan Perry had made it 2-0, again when an attacking free kick was not cleared, and Wiremu Patrick had got one back for the hosts when they capitalised on a quick free kick.
Pearce snatched his third from the penalty spot after he had been brought down inside the opening minute of the second spell.
Hoani Edwards completed the scoring three minutes from time as United took their season tally to a competition best 18 - two more than Auckland City. Both have conceded just six goals in seven outings.
It was sweet revenge for United whose only loss came to the Stu Jacobs-coached Wellingtonians when they went down 2-1 in the season-opener at Fred Taylor Park.
The next round will be played on January 5-6 with Waitakere home to Waikato, Auckland away to Hawkes Bay and Wellington, who remain in the mix, trailing Waitakere only on goal difference, away to YoungHeart Manawatu.
