Auckland dominant throughout season

AT the start of the season the national football premiership looked to be divided into the top four and the rest.

In hindsight, maybe that should have been Auckland City and the rest.

Even by the powerhouse club’s high standards this has been a dominant season.

It has dropped just two points — in a draw with Southern United — and racked up 46 of them with two games remaining.

That leaves it 15 points clear at the top of the table.

Next week it faces one team that may be capable of knocking it off in Team Wellington.

Wellington is joined by Eastern Suburbs — although Suburbs has a game in hand — in a tie for second on 31 points.

Following closely is Canterbury United on 30 points.

That top four is now set in place.

What remains to be seen is who has the ominous task of going through Auckland City to make the final remains unknown.

Beneath that Southern United leads the chasing pack and is in position to finish fifth for the second year in a row.

On 22 points it has a fivepoint buffer over Hamilton Wanderers and leads Hawke’s Bay United — which has a game in hand — by seven.

Southern has the chance to snuff out Hawke’s Bay’s chance of catching it in its next game at Sunnyvale Park next Sunday.

Waitakere United and Tasman United fill the eighth and ninth spots on 13 and 12 points respectively, although have also got a game in hand.

Meanwhile the Wellington Phoenix Reserves remain rooted to the bottom with just five points and a solitary win.

In the goalscoring stakes Hawke’s Bay’s Sam MasonSmith has jumped out in front having netted 14 this season.

He is trailed by Southern’s Garbhan Coughlan and Suburbs’ Callum McCowatt, who have both scored 12.

The league has three weeks remaining.

Semifinals are scheduled for March 23 and 24, while the final will be played on March 31.