In a local derby, Otago University hosted Mosgiel in the Southern Football League.
Both teams registered losses in the first round, and the need to get points was foremost in the thoughts of both coaches.
Mosgiel started the brightest, with Fernando Montado's early shot forcing Stu Catto to dive to his left to save.
Lewis Wall burst into Varsity's box in the 13th minute, shrugging off Tim O'Farrell and slotting home to give Mosgiel the lead.
Varsity then had a long spell of possession, and on 19 minutes Oban Hawkins shot just wide after a flurry of blocked shots.
The students were denied on 25 minutes by a fine one-handed save from Levi Waddington, who stopped Santeri Kuivalainen's 30-yard pile-driver.
More pressure from University forced Waddington to again palm away a goal-bound effort.
Montado was about to break away for Mosgiel when Hawkins fouled him, earning the first yellow card of the match.
Mosgiel skipper Rory Findlay then conceded a free kick 23 yards out.
Kuivalainen's effort snuck around the corner of the wall and bounced into the left-hand corner for a well-deserved equaliser with 32 minutes played.
University striker Dom Scahill came into the game and had three chances late in the first half to take the lead, but shot just wide on two occasions. On the
third he was challenged by Javier Langley.
The second half took some time to open up, and on 60 minutes Mosgiel's Cam Anderson was brought down just outside the penalty box. Hawkins' long range effort from 25 yards out was palmed away by Waddington.
With 25 minutes remaining Mosgiel started to come into the game more, and Anderson broke away and crossed for Beckham Greenall-Wheeler, whose shot was well saved by Catto.
University brought on Alec McBride, but his appearance was cut short by injury after just five minutes. This gave Mosgiel the fillip it needed.
When Wheeler-Greenall won the ball in the centre of the park, he fed Riley Anderton who sprinted away holding off two challenges to slide past Catto with seven minutes remaining.
In injury time Anderton slipped a pass to Wheeler-Greenall, whose cross was met by Wall to slot home for a 3-1 win to Mosgiel.
In the other Dunedin game, Caversham hosted Christchurch's Coastal Spirit, and in a close match lost 2-1.
Brent Clifford gave Coastal a 39th-minute lead, before Caversham captain Andrew Ridden hit back early in the second half.
However, Spirit got the winner when Ash Wellbourne scored on 66 minutes.
Garbhan Coughlan scored a hat-trick for Cashmere Technical in a 5-2 win over Western.
Nelson Suburbs beat Nomads United 1-0.
- NEVILLE WATSON
