Waitakere United took advantage of Auckland City's absence to snatch top spot on the ASB Premiership table after beating WaiBoP United at Whenuapai yesterday.
With Auckland yet to return to action following Thursday's 2-1 defeat to Raja Casablanca at the Club World Cup, Waitakere assumed control of the competition, though the scoreline may have flattered the champions. Unheralded WaiBoP dominated large chunks of the game but emerged with nothing.
Sam French's first goal for Waitakere came against the run of play 13 minutes into the match and, after adding a second with 10 minutes left, Jarrod Young scored at the death to add some gloss.
Elsewhere, Hawke's Bay stole into third after a solitary Tom Biss goal was enough to beat Canterbury in Napier, while Team Wellington edged Wanderers SC by the odd goal in five to move back into the top four.
