In a fine old wintry battle at Tonga Park, Caversham eventually beat Mosgiel 5-2 on Saturday, and moved into top place in the Footballsouth Premier League.
The score probably flattered Caversham, since, in a dynamic finish, Harley Rodeka completed his hat trick with goals in the 80th and 85th minutes.
Mosgiel made the early running with a superb headed goal by Morgan Day in the 11th minute, and another quality finish by Regan Coldicott bulged the net after 40 minutes.
But in between, Mosgiel conceded a critical own goal, with Rodeka optimistically claiming a touch, and Caversham's Evan Jones and then Rodeka made it 3-2 at the break.
The heavy, lumpy pitch produced strings of zero passes that never reached their proper destination but generated great excitement among coaches and spectators.
Mosgiel's best spell of pressure was just after halftime, when Phil Kelly defied the years and sprinted like a teenager, and performed clever turns under tight pressure.
Tim Dunn made aggressive runs, Day and brother Curtis put in the miles, Coldicott was forced wide, Luke Burgess and Mike Abbott pushed forward, but Caversham's defence was well led by Jude Fitzpatrick.
When Mosgiel attacked from set plays, Caversham keeper Callum Flaws was like a cat on hot bricks, and, in a couple of frantic moments, goal line clearances saved the home side.
But with a steadier attack, Ant Hancock was the fulcrum for Caversham and man of the match Rodeka ripped past blue shirts.
Captain Seamus Ryder generated his trademark box-to-box running, and along with Anton Ross and Jones forced errors in Mosgiel's defence.
Mosgiel coach Mike McGarry's plan to defend as a unit was unravelled, despite some glimpses of his team's true form, and in recognition of boundless skill and energy, Morgan Day was the Plainsmen's man of the match.
At Ocean Grove, Grants Braes fought back against Green Island, which earned a 1-0 halftime lead.
Four goals in the second half maintained the balance, with a 3-2 win to the Island.
Fresh back from the United States, Joel Stevens made some searing runs for the Island, as did Sammer Dubois and left winger Mitch Adams for Braes.
The Island goals were scored by Jack Kirkwood, Cody Robinson and Stevens.
Despite leading 1-0 early in Queenstown, Roslyn-Wakari slid to a 3-1 defeat, reduced to 10 men after conceding a penalty.
Rovers goals came from Ramsi Toumi (two) and Carlos Mayer, so coach Steve Henderson's team climbed up the table over Northern, which lost 5-1 to University.
University coach Luiz Euhara's students scored goals via Peter Rae, Jeremy Fong, Guilherme Melo (penalty), Ifeanyi Unamadu and Antony Tarrant to move above Roslyn and Mosgiel, just behind third-placed Green Island.
