Waitakere United has beaten Manawatu 5-0 to open up a two-point gap at the top of the National football Premiership after nearest rivals Auckland City and Hawke's Bay United produced a 1-1 draw.
The race for spots in the top-four playoffs is still tight with just three points separating Waitakere, Auckland, Hawke's Bay and Canterbury United after three rounds.
Wellington moved into fifth with a 4-1 victory that left Waikato and Otago both propping up the table, while Manawatu slipped to sixth.
Canterbury beat Otago 2-1.
