Max Johnson scored after just two minutes and then doubled the lead on 14 minutes, scoring from a penalty after being fouled in the box.
Southland was under constant pressure and its unbeaten start to the season was under threat. It had to make changes heading into the second half and gambled with only three at the back. That paid off when Miguel Ortiz scored on 80 minutes, before Yuto Kato equalised with only five minutes to go.
Roslyn-Wakari took its first win of the season as it prevailed 2-0 over Mosgiel.
Goal keeper Tom Stevens did well to repel some early shots from Mosgiel’s Cam McPhail and Charlie Gruppelaar.
Tennessee Kinghorn then scored on the counterattack, breaking down the left and shooting past Sean McDonald in the Mosgiel goal.
Roslyn was strengthened by the midweek signing of Southern United’s Nick Treadwell. He linked well with Ben O’Farrell and Harley Rodeka and had a strong game. A mix-up in Mosgiel’s defence allowed Cam Anderson to pounce on 30 minutes, extending Roslyn’s lead to 2-0.
Despite Mosgiel having long periods of possession, it was unable to get anything out of the game.
Following last week’s opening defeat, Malcolm Fleming wanted his Caversham team to start well. It was unable to do that, but managed to take a 5-3 win over Northern.
A surprising start saw Northern take a 1-0 lead in the first minute, but Caversham showed its class and was on level terms on 10 minutes when Ben Kiore scored his first goal.
Michael Hogan and Andy Ridden controlled the game and Caversham went further ahead, with goals to Connor Neil and Ridden himself, to have a 3-1 lead at the break.
Neil and Ridden both scored again, and Northern scored a penalty, to take the score to 5-2. Northern is a different side this year under Luiz Uehara and when it scored again with five minutes to go, Caversham had a few nervy moments.
Joint top-of-the-table Queenstown travelled to Dunedin to record a 2-2 draw with Otago University.
With six players unavailable, Queenstown took the lead when Jan Kumar scored on 16 minutes. It held that for most of the first half until Harry Goskin equalised with an exquisite chip.
University had its backs up with the wind behind it.
A long clearance from Jack Rathbone went box to box and deceived Daniel Bocatios in goals to put University ahead with nine minutes to go.
Queenstown did not lie down and drove forward, winning a free kick.
The ball was cut back to Nicholas Lawton on the edge of the box for an 85th-minute equaliser. After three games in only one round of seven to decide the top three that will contest the South Island league, Queenstown and Southland are joint top on seven points, Technical, Roslyn and Green Island have four, Caversham and Mosgiel have three, University one and Northern none.
- Neville Watson
