Football: HB Utd victory crucial step to O-League

GOAL: Tom Biss scored the opener in the sixth minute.

Hawke's Bay United have moved a valuable step closer to O-League honours after a don't-argue 2-0 victory over Team Wellington today.

Tom Biss and Fabien Kurimati were the goal scorers in the dominant display at David Farrington Park in Miramar.

Bay United striker Biss drew first blood in just the sixth minute, 1-0, drilling the ball from the left flank after Wellington goalkeeper Scott Basalaj parried Sam Mason-Smith's first attempt from inside the 5m goal box.

In the 16th minute, Bay United captain Finlay Milne collected a yellow card for a crude tackle.

A regulation minute before halftime, Wellington centreback Bill Robertson collected a yellow card for fouling Bay keeper Joshua Hill.

Referee Chris Kerr continued dishing out yellow cards, including two to captain Cole Peverley who left the field in the 75th minute with his head down low.

But what drew the second clumsy foul two minutes earlier was a superb goal from midfielder Fabien Kurimati, who chested a superb ball chip cross from Kohei Matsumoto on the left flank.

Kurimati chested it down on the far post and volleyed it past a flat-footed Basalaj, Bay United lead 2-0.

Susbsitute striker Paul Ifill again showed his class in the 82nd minute, taking on two physical defenders in the 18m box before turning to slam the ball which cruelly clipped the crossbar and jagged down to the ground but Biss couldn't get to it in time to plant it in the net.

Two minutes later, Bay United coach Brett Angell took off a diligent Matsumoto and injected Cheauxyan Makau.

Referee Kerr played almost five minutes of added time in the first 45 minutes on a firm square ground that allowed for expansive play with fresh breeze blowing across the field.

Just before the 3pm kick off, a couple of Yellow Fever fans were told to put down a placard demanding New Zealand Football CEO Andy Martin step down over the Alex Jones transfer debacle.

Corey Chettleburg is out of this Sunday's game against Waitakere United after collecting his fourth yellow card.

Zane Sole, who missed yesterday's game "because of work commitments" according to coach Brett Angell, returns to the midfield.