With Northern Rovers and Franklin United locking horns in Kate Sheppard Cup action in mid-June, the way was open for Onehunga Sports and FC Tauranga Moana to take advantage of their title rivals' absence in the Lotto Northern Women's Championship, and both did so by recording ninth round victories to maintain their respective pursuits of the silverware. "The Green Machine" ground out a 2-1 win over Birkenhead United at Waikaraka Park, where first half goals from Annie Byrne and Sivitha Boyce put Sports in charge on the scoreboard. Morgan Herbst reduced the deficit soon after half-time, but United couldn't find an equaliser to deny the league leaders another three points. At Gower Park meanwhile, Tauranga put on a five-star second half showing in dishing out a 5-0 mauling to Melville United, who had no answer to a three-goal salvo in the five minutes before the hour mark. Briana Osborne struck twice and Kerri-Ann Jones once - the latter marking her return from injury with a goal - to settle the outcome of the "Kaimais Derby", with Abi Witney-Collins and substitute Kate Mori adding more misery to Melville's day before the final whistle. Central United left Manukau United contemplating relegation when handing the South Auckland outfit a 4-1 hiding in a match played at Parrs Park. Central midfield duo Robyn Wilkinson and Isabella Cranefield both struck twice for the victors, with Mareta Brothers netting a consolation goal for the vanquished, who only had eleven players to call upon and are now effectively seven points adrift at the bottom, given the size of their goal difference. It doesn't get any easier for Manukau, with league leaders Onehunga paying a visit to Walter Massey Park this Sunday. Tauranga and Franklin meet in the match of the round at Fergusson Park, while Birkenhead and Melville draw swords at Shepherds Park in a round which sees Northern and Central locking horns at McFetridge Park on Friday evening. Details: Central United 4 (R. Wilkinson (40, 44), I. Cranefield (55, 64)), Manukau United 1 (M. Brothers (79))  HT 2-0 Melville United 0, Tauranga Moana 5 (B. Osborne (56, 58), K. Jones (59), A. Witney-Collins (80), K. Mori (90))  HT 0-0 Onehunga Sports 2 (A. Byrne (13), S. Boyce (34)), Birkenhead United 1 (M. Herbst (50))  HT 2-0