FC Tauranga Moana are on course to earn promotion to the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League after a shock result for nearest rivals Onehunga Sports allowed the league leaders to extend their advantage to four points on 14 July, a lead which may well prove decisive as teams commence the final third of the campaign. "The Green Machine" came a cropper at Melville United earlier this season, and when Tarena Ranui brought her side to Waikaraka Park on Sunday, lightning very nearly struck twice as Sports came from two goals down to retain their unbeaten home record with a 2-2 draw. A brace of Laura Bennett goals gave the visitors a lead which presented Onehunga with an almighty challenge as they looked to revive their title challenge, and goals either side of the half-time whistle from Sivitha Boyce and Robyn Fisher ultimately earned Sports a share of the spoils. It may be a telling blow to their title hopes however, as while this stalemate was taking place, and the North Harbour derby twixt Northern Rovers and Birkenhead United resulted in a 0-0 draw at McFetridge Park, Tauranga went nap at bottom-placed Manukau United to stretch their lead at the top of the table. Goals early in each half from Abi Witney-Collins - the second a penalty - established the visitors' victory platform, upon which Briana Osborne and Grace Duncan built an unassailable advantage prior to the half-time whistle, and substitute Taryn Holloway wrapped up the scoring with twenty minutes to play. Five goals were also scored at Kiwitea Street, where Central United stormed to a two-goal lead before Franklin United mustered a fightback which included a stoppage time winner from an unlikely source, the visitors prevailing 3-2. Sylvia McDougall gave Central the lead on the half-hour, and when half-time substitute Danika Chhour doubled their advantage early in the second spell, you could hear the alarm bells ringing from as far south as Drury! After her critical miss in their Kate Sheppard Cup quarter-final last week, Sarah Carpenter owed her Franklin team-mates a favour or two, and she made good on her blemish with a second half double-strike, the equaliser coming nine minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish. Sadly for Central, their defensive rock, Phoebe Donaldson, had the misfortune to put through her own net in stoppage time, a goal which gave Franklin an unlikely win and, crucially, kept them in the title race - they have two games in hand on Tauranga, but can't afford anymore slip-ups. Which means Sunday's duel with Onehunga at the Drury Sports Complex is a massive game for both teams - in effect, this will determine which of them will offer Tauranga their biggest challenge in the race for the title and promotion from the Lotto Northern Women's Championship. While that match is taking place, the league leaders entertain Northern at Gordon Spratt Reserve. Elsewhere, Melville meet Manukau at Gower Park, while at Shepherds Park, Birkenhead and Central lock horns. Details: Central United 2 (S. McDougall (30), D. Chhour (49)), Franklin United 3 (S. Carpenter (66, 81), "oggie" (90))  HT 1-0 Manukau United 0, FC Tauranga Moana 5 (A. Witney-Collins (11, 48 pen), B. Osborne (31), G. Duncan (45), T. Holloway (69))  HT 0-3 Northern Rovers 0, Birkenhead United 0 Onehunga Sports 2 (S. Boyce (45), R. Fisher (52)), Melville United 2 (L. Bennett (18, 36))  HT 1-2