KEY POINTS:
The pressure goes on Auckland City and Waitakere United in their catch-up New Zealand Football Championship battle at Kiwitea St on Wednesday night.
In holding on to edge Hawkes Bay United 3-2 in a sometimes testy encounter at FMG Stadium yesterday, YoungHeart Manawatu closed to within a point of Waitakere at the top of the table. At the same time they stretched their advantage over defending champions City to nine points. City does, however, have two games in hand over in-form Manawatu.
The challenge for City, back home yesterday after losing their 5th-6th play-off at the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan to Korean champions Jeonbuk Motors 3-0, will be to bounce back from two losses, no goals and a hectic travel schedule.
They will at least have some stability with coach Allan Jones agreeing to stay for the match.
Manawatu made hard work of their home win over the Bay. The visitors had the first chance but were denied when Alek Maemae headed off the line.
But a minute before the break, Maemae provided the left flank build-up for fellow Solomon Islander Benjamin Totori, who gathered and fired his shot past United goalkeeper Mitch O'Brien.
Four minutes into the second half, Manawatu doubled their lead when new Bay signing and former Waikato FC coach Dave Edmondson slid in to attempt a block but succeeded only in steering the ball into his own goal.
On the hour, and as tempers flared, Graham Fyfe kept his composure to score for the visitors.
That joy was short-lived, however, as Tim Richardson was brought down and, much to the annoyance of Bay coach Jonathan Gould, who was sent packing by referee Michael Brock, a penalty was awarded. Totori hit home his 16th goal of the season (in just 11 games) for 3-1.
The Bay were not done with and five minutes from time Sam Messam hit the post after finding himself in a one-on-one with Manawatu goalkeeper Phil Imray.
Five minutes later Messam turned on the edge of the penalty area and snapped a shot past Imray.
Team Wellington blew their chance to move into the top four when held to a 0-0 draw at home by Waikato FC, who picked up their first point under new coach Roger Wilkinson.
Wellington had two goals disallowed, including one from All Whites midfielder Raf de Gregorio in his first outing of the season.
Canterbury United stretched their winning run to four with a battling 1-0 home win over Otago United. Stuart Kelly headed home the 63rd-minute winner as Canterbury went three games in a row without conceding a goal. They are at home to Team Wellington next up on January 6.
