AUCKLAND COMPOUND CANTERBURY TROUBLES IN NZFC

Defending champions Auckland City maintained their one-point lead over the pack in the NZFC after cruising to a 3-0 win over bottom placed Canterbury United at English Park.

Solomon Island international Benjamon Totori  made sure the gap didn’t stretch too wide after handing Waitakere United three points in Wellington, scoring the only goal of the
game with an 87th minute strike at Newtown Park.

Both matches – the only played over the weekend – were brought forward from the 20th and 14th rounds respectively to free up the domestic calendar as Auckland and Waitakere eye
impending O-League commitments.

Golden Boot leader Bryan Little opened the scoring for Auckland with his seventh goal of the campaign. South African marksman Grant Young added his second and third goals of the
season to compound Canterbury’s troubles and leave them stranded at the foot of the table on two points.

It has been a horror couple of weeks for Canterbury who lost to South Island rivals Otago United last Saturday before having captain Stuart Kelly and playmaker Blair Scoullar leave
the squad.

It seems things will only get tougher as they face second placed Waitakere United in Christchurch next Sunday.

Meanwhile Waitakere United snatched a late winner in a fiery contest between the leagues second and third placed teams.

Totori, regarded by many as the most dangerous player in the league, backed up his reputation by finishing off a mazy run through the Wellington defense with  a deft finish
which slipped through the fingertips of keeper Phil Imray.

Totori’s winner came after Wellington were reduced to 10-men when captain Adam Birch was red-carded for a studs up challenge on Waitakere substitute Paul Seaman in the 71st
minute.

Wellington coach Stu Jacobs will be bitterly disappointed with his sides second loss of the season. Striker Graham Little looked to have won a penalty in the 51st minute after being
brought down by Waitakere’s Neil Emblem but referee Peter O’Leary waved it away.

Jacobs frustrations grew when O’leary later sent off his captain Adam Birch for what appeared an innocuous challenge on Waitakere substitute Paul Seaman in the 71st minute.

Wellington will have a chance to get their title aspirations back on track when they meet a traveling Waikato FC at Newtown Park next Saturday.

 NZFC Table as of 13/1/08