The home side were dominant with the ball, having over 70% possession.
Stephen Sprowson, who produced a player of the game performance, equalised at 16 minutes when he tapped in from close range, following Finlay Cotton’s 11th minute goal for Selwyn.
Wānaka went ahead in first-half stoppage time when Eddie Belingher cut the ball back for Blaine Mabie to head home.
Sprowson provided the assist for Belingher to volley home Wānaka’s third two minutes into the second half.
Wānaka collected all three points to move to nine points, and fifth on the table, after five rounds, proof that the Central Otago team deserve their spot in the league.
The Dunedin City Royals came from behind twice to earn a valuable point on the road against Ferrymead Bays.
They had a 2-2 draw to extend their unbeaten run to four games.
After conceding James Deehan’s eighth-minute opener, the Royals levelled when Conor Neil was fouled in the penalty box.
He drove home the penalty in the 24th minute.
Using the wind at their back, Ferrymead had a succession of corners that were swung in dangerously but the Royals’ defence and keeper Alex Boomer dealt with them admirably.
Despite playing into a headwind, the Royals continued to break forward and looked to break the deadlock.
Just before halftime, En Watanabe picked up the ball in his own half and it was delivered into the penalty box for Will Turner, who struck a well-timed shot but was not able to get past the keeper.
Midway through the second half, Ferrymead won a free kick in their own half and a long ball over the top beat the Royals defence.
When the ball was crossed, the Royals acrobatically cleared it only for the ball to fall straight to Cameron Rean on the edge of the box.
He slammed it and gave Boomer no chance.
The Royals continued to press and their chance came in the 84th minute.
Ferrymead cleared a long throw out to Tom Milton, who put it back in the box and Ferrymead conceded a free kick on the edge of the box.
Brady Jacobs’ well-struck free kick evaded the wall and defender Ben Campbell had the slightest touch to send it into the net.
It gave the Royals a well-earned point, leaving them fourth on the table, three points behind top-of-the-table Christchurch United, whom the Royals face next week.
Christchurch United beat Universities of Canterbury 10-0, Coastal Spirit are second after beating Nomads 4-2, and Nelson Suburbs overcame Cashmere Tech 2-0.
• In the ODT Southern Premiership, Northern and University both recorded their third wins to be joint leaders.
Northern smashed Green Island 6-0 at Sunnyvale, Nick Treadwell claiming a brace to be the surprise early shot for the golden boot.
University beat Mosgiel 3-0 at Memorial Park with both team forced into changes through injury.
Ashton Hodson put the students ahead just before the break and George Willet made it two, one minute after coming on as a replacement.
A defensive mix-up presented Simba Muwunganirwa with a simple opportunity to score 10 minutes from fulltime.
Old Boys secured their first win of the season with a 4-1 victory over Northern Hearts in Invercargill.
Will Fleming opened the scoring for the home side on 18 minutes, and Bailey Chambers equalised for Hearts.
When Fleming scored his second in the 53rd minute, the home side kicked on and scored further goals through Zachary Tull and substitute Luca Hooks.
Roslyn-Wakari welcomed Nathan Wilkie back and he delivered with the opener against Queens Park.
Michael Larsen equalised for the Invercargill side on the half-hour mark and Roslyn captain Hamish Mair put the home side back in front on halftime to hold on for a 2-1 victory.
• The Dunedin City Royals joined Otago University at the top of the South Island women’s league with a 2-0 win over Coastal Spirit at Logan Park yesterday.
Raegan Potter opened the scoring for the Royals after just four minutes and added a second nine minutes later.
The Royals and Otago University each have four wins from four and are tied at the top of the league with Cashmere Technical on 12 points.
Roslyn-Wakari remain in the hunt for their first win after a 5-1 loss to Cashmere Tech.
By Neville Watson
