Auckland City the minor premiers

Auckland City have 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 now 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.

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 win in relative comfort.