City claim minor premiership

Auckland City wrapped up the national football league minor premiership with four matches to spare.

The defending champions beat the Wellington Phoenix’s reserves 2-1 at Kiwitea St yesterday for their 14th win from as many matches.

About the same time, third-placed Team Wellington beat second-placed Eastern Suburbs 3-1 at David Farrington Park, meaning both teams are on 31 points, 11 points behind Auckland, who have a game in hand.

Auckland’s win came about through goals to David Browne and Yousif Al-khalisy either side of halftime.

Justin Gulley gave the Weenix hope with a 61st-minute goal, but it was not enough for them to mount a comeback.

Down in Wellington, Suburbs took the lead through a 27th-minute Callum Mccowatt goal, but it was all Team Wellington from there.

Ross Allen bagged a first-half brace, including from the penalty spot in injury time, while Aaron Clapham also scored in the 39th minute as the hosts went into the sheds up 3-1.

Suburbs captain Tim Payne was sent off for a last-man challenge on Andy Bevin just after halftime, further complicating his side’s already difficult task. Wellington dominated the 10 men of Suburbs to close out the win in relative comfort.

The late match saw Canterbury United all but assure themselves of a spot in the semifinals with a 4-2 win over Hamilton Wanderers in Hamilton.

Southern United can mathematically still pass Canterbury. They sit on 17 points, but have five games to go, including a catchup game against Auckland on Wednesday.