Former All Whites midfielder Monty Patterson continues to be a goal-scoring force in New Zealand Football's National League.
Patterson netted a hat-trick in Birkenhead United's 4-2 victory over the Wellington Phoenix Reserves at Auckland's Shepherds Park in Round 5 on Sunday to lift Birko to second in the National League Championship (NLC).
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The 27-year-old scored in the 24th, 55th and 62nd minutes as Birkenhead recorded their third win, remaining three points back of league leaders Auckland City.
Patterson, who debuted at 19 for the All Whites in 2016 and went on to appear in 15 matches for New Zealand, has 23 goals in all competitions in his first season in red and white stripes, following stints at Auckland United and Manurewa.
The match also featured Phoenix first-teamer David Ball scoring a 93rd-minute consolation goal in his return to action.
City remained on track for a spot in December's NLC final with their fourth win in five matches, with three late goals from Myer Bevan, Mario Ilich and Angus Kilkolly sealing a 3-0 win over Eastern Suburbs at Madills Farm on Saturday.
Behind the top-two, Coastal Spirit, Napier City Rovers and defending champions Wellington Olympic are level on eight points, two behind Birkenhead, with Cashmere Technical and Western Springs a further two points back.
Olympic got back on track with a tough 3-2 victory over Springs at Auckland's Seddon Fields on Saturday, with Gavin Hoy's 49-minute strike the game-winning goal after The Greeks had blown a two-goal lead in the first half.
Napier City Rovers did all their scoring in the first 38 minutes of their 4-2 win over Western Suburbs at Porirua's Endeavour Park on Saturday, while Garbhan Coughlan (Cashmere) and David Yoo (Coastal) each scored two goals in a 3-3 draw at Christchurch's Nga Puna Wai.
In the Women's National League Championship (WNLC), Auckland United defeated Canterbury United Pride 4-1 at Christchurch's English Park on Saturday thanks to two goals from Charlotte Roche.
The victory took United two points clear of Wellington's Waterside Karori, who were held to a 1-1 draw with Western Springs at Auckland's Seddon Fields on Saturday. The Pride sit a further point back.
West Coast Rangers kept their hopes of a top-two finish alive with a 2-1 victory over the Wellington Phoenix Women Reserves at Auckland's Fred Taylor Park on Sunday, with two goals from Bree Johnson.
Southern United picked up their first wins over the WNLC, beating Wellington United 2-1 on Saturday and Central Football 8-1 on Monday, both at Wellington's Martin Luckie Park. Hannah Mackay-Wright scored three goals over Labour Weekend.
Central were on the wrong side of two big defeats, with Shion Hwang scoring a hat-trick and Zoe Benson two goals in Eastern Suburbs' 10-0 drubbing at Massey University.
NZF NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS - ROUND 5
Wellington Olympic 3 Western Springs 2
Auckland City 3 Eastern Suburbs 0
Cashmere Technical 3 Coastal Spirit 3
Napier City Rovers 4 Western Suburbs 2
Birkenhead United 4 Phoenix Reserves 2
NZF WOMEN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS - ROUND 5
Eastern Suburbs 10 Central Football 0
Auckland United 4 Canterbury United Pride 1
Western Springs 1 Waterside Karori 1
Southern United 2 Wellington United 1
West Coast Rangers 2 Phoenix Women Reserves 1
Southern United 8 Central Football 1