Soccer: Magic touch from Solomons

Waitakere United's Chris Jackson competes for the ball against Waikato's L.J. Pijnenburg yesterday. Waikato won 2-1. Picture / Brett Phibbs

There is no stopping the Solomon Islanders in the YoungHeart Manawatu side.

Another three-goal trick from their imports, in a 3-1 away win over Team Wellington yesterday, has carried the pride of Palmerston North all the way to the top of the New Zealand Football Championship and on course for home game action when the big end-of-season battles roll around.

Capitalising on previous leaders Auckland City's on-going struggles, Manawatu go into round 18 of the NZ Community Trust-sponsored championship a point ahead of City, who lost 1-0 at home to Otago United, their second successive loss in as many outings to South Island sides on Saturday.

It is only the second time in their two years of NZFC action Auckland City have lost two in a row.

In other 17th-round matches, Canterbury United moved to within two points of second-placed Auckland City with their comfortable 3-0 away win over Hawkes Bay United.

And Waikato FC kept themselves right in the playoff battle by holding on to head Waitakere United 2-1 to complete a weekend clean sweep for visiting teams.

But it was Manawatu's ongoing charge which grabbed most attention.

Commins Menapi got the visitors started at Newtown Park when he scored after 12 minutes. Wiremu Patrick equalised for Team Wellington six minutes later. The score remained locked at 1-1 until the 58th minute, when Benjamin Totori regained the lead for Manawatu. His second, five minutes from time, dashed any hopes of a late charge from the home side.

The Colin Tuaa-coached Manawatu side have not lost since they went down 4-1 to City in the 12th round.

In their past five outings they have won three and drawn two, scoring 15 goals, with all but two from their Solomon Islanders. Totori has helped himself to seven, Menapi four and Alex Maemae two.

American import Francesco Caruso scored the goal that mattered at Kiwitea St, steering Otago United to their fifth win of the season and into the all-important top five. Against an again out-of-sorts City side, Caruso broke the deadlock in the 74th minute when goalkeeper Ross Nicholson failed to hold under an aerial challenge and the American bundled the ball in the City goal.

Otago coach Terry Phelan was understandably happy with the result and the work put in by his players.

Michael Eisenhut, on the left wing, and defender Andy Boyens back from the All Whites stood out.

"That was a great effort from start to finish and well overdue. We came with a game plan and it worked."

Waitakere coach Steve Cain could have done with some of that toil at Trusts Stadium yesterday.

Stung by a bizarre own goal just 27s into the game - and that after they had kicked off - the home side rarely threatened. That goal came when Jakub Sinkora had a shot which Simon Eaddy did well to get to. He pushed the ball away but as his defenders cleared they succeeded only in hitting the ball into the chest of retreating Ben Steward, who could only watch in despair as the ball rebounded into his own goal.

Within five minutes it was locked up when Daniel Ellensohn was left to run unchallenged by the Waikato defence. Accepting his good luck he hit a shot from outside the penalty area which surprised goalkeeper Tamati Williams as it nestled in the net.

Seven minutes after he had initiated the first goal, Sinkora had one for himself when the United defence failed to clear a free kick and Sinkora sunk the ball in top corner.

Scoring chances were few for the remaining 85 or so minutes, even if the visitors played the last 10 with only 10 players after referee Neil Fox, perhaps a little hastily, flashed a second yellow at L.J. Pijnenburg.

"It was not pretty but we hung on and showed a greater desire," said Waikato FC football manager James Pamment.

"For us, today was the first day of the playoff series ... It is harder for us as we don't have any more games in Hamilton."

Brent Fisher returned from international duty to score two for Canterbury United in their 3-0 win over Hawkes Bay United in Napier.