Papamoa kept their Premiership title hopes alive with a resounding 8-1 victory over lowly Hamilton Wanderers on Saturday.

However, boss Duncan Lowry admitted the club have been left frustrated following the news that a place in the Northern League structure via the play-offs is no longer an option.

The powers that be in Auckland have ruled that no club from the WaiBop Premiership pool will be allowed to compete for a Northern League spot, as the current campaign is not due to end until early October.

'The situation is farcical,” said Lowry, whose side still have four league games left to play.

'Not being able to compete in the end-of-season play-offs for a place in the Northern League is a big disappointment for the club – especially given the hard work everyone has put in this term.

'Through no fault of our own, the season is having to be extended to catch up on games that should have been played long before now.

'The Auckland league have ruled that, due to our league title not being decided before September 15, no team from our league will be eligible to compete for a Northern League place for next season.”

With the weekend's clash switched to Matamata Domain due to Gordon Spratt Reserve being prepared for the AIMS Games, second-placed Papamoa made light work of bottom side Wanderers.

In spring-like conditions, Lowry's men knew that only an avalanche of goals would do given the league situation, where Taupo remain three points clear at the top.

The fact that two of Taupo's remaining four fixtures come against Wanderers, who have lost every one of their 18 league fixtures this season and conceded 102 goals in the process, added extra urgency.

The Bay of Plenty side showed their intent from the very first whistle, and were rewarded in the 26th minute when Naz Luna's arrowed through-ball found man of the match Logan Crawford, who kept his cool to open the scoring.

Crawford then made it two after good work from Cole Peverley and substitute Matthew De Bono, who replaced a struggling Fawwaz Alijust after the half-hour mark, trebled their lead before the interval following a teasing pass from skipper Campbell Higgins.

The tie had become a damage limitation exercise for Wanderers, and though they did find the net after break, further goals from Peverley, Eli Welch and Andrew Cooper boosted their goals for column before a spectacular cameo from substitute Liam Molloy, who netted twice in the dying minutes.

'I'll always be happy to take a win,” added Lowry. 'The race is on for the top spot, and you would have to say that Taupo are the favourites at this stage.

'However, we will compete to win each of our remaining games and look forward to the clash with Taupo on October 6. It's likely that the title could be decided on goal difference.”

Before the all-important clash with Taupo next month, Papamoa face a double header against Tauranga Boys' College – the first of which is at Gordon Spratt Reserve on Saturday (2:45pm) – either side of a tricky-looking home tie with third-placed Waikato Unicol.

Graphic: @WaiBOPFootball/Twitter.

Papamoa FC (3-4-3): Harris Edlin; Phillip Fletcher, Cole Peverley, Campbell Higgins (captain); Top Khamwanthong, Nazerino Luna, Dave Molloy, Elijah Welch; Fawwaz Ali, Andrew Cooper, Logan Crawford. Subs: Liam Molloy, Matthew De Bono, Alex Wilson.