Soccer: Playoff race heats up as Waitakere fall to Hawke's Bay

Waitakere United skipper Jake Butler. Photo / Getty Images.

Waitakere United are in danger of missing the ASB Premiership top-four playoffs for the first time in the competition's history after they were beaten 2-1 by Hawke's Bay United at Bluewater Stadium today.

It was the champions' fifth loss of the season and leaves them sitting in fifth place, four points behind Hawke's Bay, with just two games left in the regular season.

Tom Biss and Tom Mosquera both scored late in the first half for the home side before Richie Cardozo pulled one back for Waitakere late in the match.

Canterbury United and Team Wellington are sandwiched between the two sides on the table, with just four points separating second through fifth, and fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw in Wellington.

Charlie Henry (2) and Tom Doyle netted for Wellington while Russell Kamo, Frederico Marquez and Michael White scored for the visitors.
WaiBOP United equaled their franchise-record margin of victory in the Premiership with a 6-1 win over struggling Southern United in Dunedin.

Midfielder Nik Robson broke the franchise's single-game scoring record with four goals while Sam Messam and Liam Higgins also chipped in with goals.

Auckland City increased their lead at the top of the table to four points with a 2-1 win over Wanderers SC at Kiwitea Street. Darren White and Emiliano Tade scored for Auckland while Andre de Jong pulled one back for the visitors early in the second half.