It conceded first and was on the back foot for the first 20 minutes, before eventually piling on the goals to win 5-1.
The win takes Green Island to the Cup’s round of 16, where it enters the South Island draw pool alongside the Dunedin City Royals, Cashmere Technical and Nelson Suburbs.
Just like in any classic Cup match, the underdog struck first — in the opening 20 seconds.
Straight from the kick-off, Joshua McCarroll crossed to Tyler Muir who laid the ball back to Rory Hibbert, and as Hibbert was about to shoot he was brought down.
Muir emphatically thumped home the penalty.
Despite Northern having the best of the opening 20 minutes, Green Island held firm and equalised in the 21st minute, when Cam Anderson’s free kick took a slight deflection.
Both teams had chances, with Hibbert shooting wide and Adam Hewson hitting the post for Green Island.
Right on halftime, Anderson drew a foul from Northern skipper Matt Johnstone and Anderson gave Green Island the halftime lead when he met Hewson’s resultant free kick at the near post.
Caleb Manson drove home a cross from Hewson, following a strong run down the flank, to make it 3-1 in the opening minute of the second half.
Northern looked to respond in the 58th minute, but Luka Mandich’s powerful header was well saved by Owen Dabkowski.
Two goals in three minutes made the game safe for Green Island.
Matt Henry picked up the loose ball and jinked his way into the penalty box.
He calmly drew keeper Zane Green and picked his spot low into the far corner.
Then, in the 68th minute, Henry threaded the ball through the defence for Harrison McLean to run through one on one with Green.
Despite Green closing the angle, McLean made no mistake.
The Dunedin City Royals had to dig deep to beat Mosgiel yesterday in the other local Chatham Cup game.
The home side took an early eighth minute lead, when Morgan Day headed home and the Plainsmen looked like they were heading to the next round.
The Royals were awarded an 89th minute free kick that had the crowd scratching their heads and Kaleb De Groot headed home.
They won the match when En Watanabe looped his header over Dan Robinson in the fifth minute of injury time.
The Royals women continued their local dominance, as they dispatched Otago University 4-0 in the Kate Sheppard Cup.
A third-minute goal from Chelsea Whittaker gave the Royals an early lead, which was doubled when Margarida Dias finished in the 14th minute.
The Royals controlled the remainder of the half, before Hannah MacKay-Wright and Emily Morison scored to make for a convincing scoreline.
Their usual quarterfinal opponent — Christchurch’s Coastal Spirit — was upset 1-0 by Cashmere Technical as Kate Loye dispatched an 87th minute penalty.
In the Southern Women’s Premiership, Queenstown beat Mosgiel 3-0.
In an ODT Southern Premiership catch-up game, Queenstown beat Roslyn-Wakari 2-0 thanks to Matt Cordelle’s brace.
Wanaka beat Mosgiel 3-2, Steve Pleskun scoring a brace and taking a 3-0 lead with 27 minutes to go. George Duncan and Taylor Donaldson pulled two back for the home side in the last 12 minutes.
-- Neville Watson
