Papamoa put the disappointment of defeat against Bay rivals Otumoetai firmly behind them on Saturday, winning 2-0 at West Hamilton United to keep their title tilt on track.

Despite missing influential midfielder Cole Peverley, Duncan Lowry's side returned from the Hamilton suburb of Frankton with all three points thanks to first-half goals from Dean Styles and Dave Molloy.

Amid typically erratic weather conditions at Frankton Railway Combined Sports Club, Papamoa named Isaac Bright on the substitutes' bench after an unwelcome spell on the sidelines.

And his return to action could not have been better timed as he replaced Fawwaz Ali, whose afternoon was cut short by a nasty-looking hamstring injury quarter of the way through the game.

Despite the setback, the visitors' early dominance was discernible, and a return to the crisp, inventive passing game that defined the early stages of their season was duly rewarded.

Following a sustained spell of pressure, the deadlock was broken on 27 minutes when Andrew Cooper's delivery from a set-piece was steered home by the head of Styles.

And Cooper was the architect once more as Papamoa doubled their lead before the break. Another expert cross was flicked on by Styles to Molloy, who gave West Ham's goalkeeper no chance from close range.

Andrew Cooper (right) was the creator of both goals.

After the break Lowry's men underlined why they are the only side in the WaiBop Premiership with a single figure goals-against record, and frustrated the home side's efforts to find a foothold in the tie.

As he has been since the season opener, Ryan Foord was in imperious form between the posts, marshalling a back three of Campbell Higgins, Phillip Fletcher and Campbell Attwood with admirable authority.

At the other end, and despite a 10-minute spell in the sin bin, Styles turned in a man-of-the-match display, and the afternoon was capped by the return of coach Andy Birchenough on the sidelines, who arrived home the previous evening from a trip to the USA.

After the game, Lowry said: 'It was clear early on that the work we had done in training in our mid-week session had registered.

'We were much improved from last week and I was very pleased with today's performance. We mixed our formation up and changed things in different phases.

'I'm obviously concerned about the injury to Fizz (Fawwaz Ali), but it was great to see Isaac (Bright) back in the thick of things.

'It was also great to have Birchy (Andy Birchenough) back with us. It was good to hear his inimitable style of vocal coaching throughout the game.”

Papamoa captain Higgins added: 'I'm well satisfied with the progress we have made so far.”

'We have an exceptional team spirit here, which goes from strength-to-strength. We measure our success by our standing in the league table, and I'm really looking forward to more of the same for the next 10 games.

'Our squad is growing in confidence each game. We take our training sessions seriously and we're managing to replicate that work on the playing field.”

Graphic: @WaiBOPFootball/Twitter.

Papamoa remain in second place in the WaiBop Premiership table, but sit just three points behind leaders Tauranga Boys' College, who have played two games more.

Their next fixture sees Lowry's old club Matamata Swifts travel to Gordon Spratt Reserve on Saturday, July 21 (2:45pm kick-off).

Papamoa FC (3-4-3): Ryan Foord; Campbell Higgins (captain), Phillip Fletcher, Campbell Attwood; Alex Wilson, Dean Styles, Fawwaz Ali, Top Khamwanthong; Dave Molloy, Andrew Cooper, Logan Crawford. Substitutes: Isaac Bright, Mitchell Hales, Elijah Welch.

Fawwaz Ali receives treatment after picking up a suspected hamstring injury.