Mosgiel won the battle of the two top teams from last year on Saturday, beating University 5-2 at Memorial Park.
Mosgiel started the game brightly, creating a couple of half chances while Oban Hawkins and Benjamin Stanley impressed for the students.
Midway through the first half, Mosgiel’s Cody Brook cut inside from the right and hammered home from just inside the penalty box past Luke Schaffer-Swan.
University quickly found an equaliser through Hawkins who calmly sidefooted the ball into the corner of the net.
Aidan Barbour-Ryan then created something out of nothing — outmuscling the University defence, driving towards goal and placing a shot into the bottom corner of the goal.
Mosgiel scored twice early in the second half to give it a commanding lead.
Lewis Wall hit a left-foot cross/shot into the top corner and Brook converted a penalty after Rory Findlay was fouled in the box on the back of a tremendous overlapping run.
University refused to lie down and quickly pulled a goal back through a contender for the goal of the season, Hawkins curling home a free kick past Yousuf Ahmadi into the top right corner from just outside the box.
Mosgiel sealed the game when Brook headed home a sublime cross.
It was Brook's14th goal in four games and third consecutive hat-trick.
Green Island continued its strong start to the season with a 2-0 victory over Dunedin Technical at Tahuna Park.
Technical set up to defend and frustrate Green Island, hoping to break on the counterattack which nearly paid dividends.
Technical was awarded a 41st-minute penalty but Mike Neaverson’s spot kick was well saved by Christian Firth.
It took a moment of individual brilliance from Matt Brazier in the 55th minute when he beat his marker and unleashed a powerful shot past Cade Fink to give Green Island the lead. Green Island skipper Tom Milton ensured the points were safe when he headed home in
stoppage time.
With both teams desperate for points Roslyn-Wakari beat Northern 5-2 at Ellis Park.
Northern, with new coach Arran Wilkinson at the helm, showed a more competitive ethos and dug in.
A devastating 10-minute spell just before the break settled the match in Roslyn's favour with a Tennesse Kinghorn far-post header, Harley Rodeka’s volley and Mike Sannum scoring with the last kick of the half.
The second half was an even affair with Northern showing fortitude. Luke Clissold found himself with time in front of goal to bag his brace.
Northern’s David Henderson pulled one back with a free kick that deflected off the wall in the closing stages of the game.
Wanaka won 3-1 over Caversham at Hancock Park.
The home team had plenty of possession and deservedly took the lead on 11 minutes when Connor Neil glided down the left and cracked in a superb shot.
Wanaka equalised early in the second half when Adam Hewson hit a right-foot shot low into the left-hand corner.
Wanaka continued to press and capitalised with two goals in the dying minutes. Toa Roode played a square ball to Hewson, who deceived his opposition defender by cutting back on to his right foot and hitting a well timed shot past Sean Van Dyk.
In a sweeping counterattack in the 90th minute, Fletcher Cavanagh’s was shot parried into the path of Roode and he finished calmly to seal victory.
- Neville Watson
