Wanganui City have rounded off their 2012 campaign by clinching the Western Premiership title with a 2-0 home win over Redsox Manawatu on Saturday - and set up a Central League play-off series with Capital Premiership winners Upper Hutt City.
That begins with a first leg home tie at Wembley Park next Saturday.
HRT Builders City headed into Saturday's match against Red Sox knowing nothing less than a win was good enough to overtake PN Marist.
In front of a decent crowd, with representation from the Manawatu Marist contingent and some interest from Taranaki, City started brightly enough by creating early pressure on their opposition, but were unable to convert a handful of chances.
Although the locals enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges it took 30 minutes for any scoring as striker Chris Annabell, who has enjoyed a return to form of late, pounced on a ball in the Red Sox penalty area after the visitors struggled to clear a driven ball, to slot home and release some of the tension amongst the City side.
While looking good, City had at the same time looked anxious before scoring and the opening goal well and truly settled any nerves the side may have had.
But Red Sox was a worthy opponent and value for the attitude it brought to the match.
A few teams could have taken a cynical approach and shut up shop from the word go, but last season's champions and their coach, Aaron Clegg have a winning mentality and forced the issue at times in the first half.
The visitors set-up a couple of good chances, one on any other day would have been put away by their usually efficient strike force. But it was to be City's day, and with keeper Nicholas Hayward in fine form the hosts took their 1-0 lead to the break.
A brisk start after half-time saw City win an attacking corner almost immediately and a near post header saw midfielder Collie Siew slot home to quell any visions that Redsox had of making the situation uncomfortable.
And City looked good for their two-goal lead until yet again, for the third match between the two sides this season, a player was given his marching orders from referee Anthony Riley.
Midfielder Kyle Graham-Luke was shown a red card for a two-footed lunge while clearly winning the ball in a tackle.
To add to City's immediate issue of playing the last 30 minutes a man down, coach Karl Hayward was sent to the stands after venting his dismay at the decision.
But with the two-goal lead, the locals knuckled down to their work, and put in an outstanding shift to hold off a fast finishing Red Sox side.
Hayward (senior) apologised to his players for his lack of discipline, but at the same time beamed with pride at the effort his side had put in under some intense pressure as the clock wound down. Hayward, praised keeper Hayward (Junior) and captain David Mulford who along with midfielder partner Siew, ran their socks off.