Two days previously, in the Football South Premier League, Caversham crushed the students 7-0, but there was more grit in University's Cup performance this time, despite having lost three centrebacks, and having coach Darren Hart in goal.
''The guys that played against Caversham dug deep, and played with the verve and guts that I have been looking for in the FPL, where we have not won a game all season,'' Hart said.
The coach himself, is hardly a regular goalkeeper, but he filled in with a steady performance between the sticks, and explained his punching of the ball instead of catching it: ''I had to borrow gloves, and they were too small, so I could not spread my fingers to catch the ball properly and had to punch it sometimes''.
But the student win was based on some excellent performances.
Captain Henry Flood, and Matt Webb give little away in midfield, and centreback Joe Clark energised a defensive screen that tackled better than the scarfies have done for years.
A superb 21st-minute goal by Jeremy Fong - his sixth in cup and league this season - boosted morale as he sliced square across goal and blasted a right-footed shot into the top-right corner for a 1-0 lead.
Yet Caversham continued to have the majority of ball possession and, with the two Jacksons, Tom and Lewis, hungry for work, chances were made but not converted as a talented bench of Seamus Ryder, Andrew Ridden and Craig Ferguson watched from the sideline.
University's Matt Edridge often broke dangerously on the left wing, while Truthus Toheriri, Tom Morley and Arnon Tapp were effective in midfield as was Tom Eminson, who was promoted from the reserves.
Caversham's shares improved when Ridden and Ryder entered the fray and, with Jarrod Grove pushing forward, coach Tim Horner's side mounted tremendous pressure on University.
But little gloves or not, keeper Hart was brave and effective as he blocked a one-on-one, then barrelled through for the rebound and, at the cost of a yellow card and having to face a dangerous free kick, the scoreline survived despite 95 minutes being played.
At Ellis Park, Dunedin Technical knocked Roslyn-Wakari out of the cup with a 3-2 scoreline, despite Roslyn having been in the lead at one stage.
Tim McLennan gave Technical an eighth-minute lead, Rupert Mark replied for Roslyn, and young Ben O'Farrell showed poise to slot Roslyn 2-1 ahead from the edge of the penalty area.
But Taylor McCormack made instant impact when he came on as substitute and then Josh Stewart hit the winner, giving Technical a chance to emulate its cup run when it won the trophy in 1999.
In Timaru, Mosgiel won through with a 5-1 win over West End AFC, and plucky Mornington went down 4-1 to Northern Hearts.
In the Women's KnockOut Cup at Tahuna Park, Dunedin Technical beat University 2-0.
