Whakatāne Town Pullar Builders leap frogged Otumoetai Football Club with a well-deserved 2-1 win.

Otumoetai came to town to play football and were the more dominant team in the first half, however, Town held on well defensively with a couple of goal line clearances from the backline and goalkeeper Reuben Whittaker.

Town made an early substitute with Rodney Stone coming on the wing and bringing energy and composure. The tides started to turn, and Town started creating chances with Ricky Owen opening the score with a well-taken free kick just before the half, to go into the change of ends 1-0 ahead.

Whakatāne regathered at the break and came back into the game, with the second half more even between the teams. Town doubled their lead, with Sam Cox Ellison taking on the right back and slotting a goal past the Otumoetai keeper.

Town were in cruise control until the hour mark, when Otumoetai fired one back. It was a tense last half hour, with the visitors testing the home team on numerous occasions, but Town  were able to hold out again and took all three points, showing they can play football for 90 minutes, which has been an issue in previous seasons.

Goalkeeper and captain Reuben Whittaker was again a standout in goal, along with Stone and Owen. However, man of the match was given to young Charlie Waters who showed composure and maturity beyond his years.

The weekend prior, Whakatāne Town managed a crucial away draw with Tauranga City to maintain their top four spot.

The 1-all draw came on the back of an own-goal from City and then they responded late in the contest.

The league has now split into top four, bottom four with Tauranga City, Whakatāne Town, Otumoetai FC and Te Puke United making the cut. Town host Te Puke this weekend at 12.30pm at Rex Morpeth. Town will be hoping for the same result from a few weeks back where they scored a comeback win.