Allan Pearce is fast becoming a vital cog in the Waitakere United machine. He is quick, combative, makes his own space and has an eye for goal.
Pearce didn't score in Waitakere's 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Auckland City at Fred Taylor Park on Saturday, but he made thefirst goal and typified the team effort that sees Waitakere move two points clear of Auckland at the top of the New Zealand Football Championship table.
The win is the seventh in a row for Waitakere and ends Auckland's 14-game run without defeat in the league. It also marks the first time Waitakere have taken all three points off their rivals on the field.
As early as the ninth minute the home team went ahead when goalkeeper Tamati Williams could only parry a shot from Pearce and Paul Seaman was quickest to react. It was eerily reminiscent of the goal Waitakere scored when the teams played out a 1-1 draw early in the season.
The second goal came in the 33rd minute from a right-wing corner touched on by Commins Menapi for Benjamin Totori to score.
Auckland's best early chance had fallen to Bryan Little but he took one touch too many and was blocked.
Worse was to follow for Auckland soon after the break when the frustration that had led to a raft of yellow cards saw Chad Coombes commit two offences and get his marching orders.
Ironically Auckland played better with 10 men and substitute Riki van Steeden squandered two chances. But by then the heat had taken much of the sting out of the game and Waitakere never looked like losing.
Past the halfway stage of the league, the two Auckland clubs look certainties to again contest the top-three playoffs and it would be a major surprise if Wellington didn't join them. They are three points behind Auckland and eight ahead of Hawkes Bay, who have a game in hand.
Wellington and the Bay drew 2-2 in Napier. Otago and Manawatu drove Canterbury's cellar-dwelling deeper by sharing the points in a 0-0 draw.
