Wānaka met heavyweights Cashmere Technical and had a 9-0 loss at home.
Wanaka started superbly, controlling the early momentum and were confident in the opening period.
However, a well-placed long ball opened up Wānaka and Cashmere took the lead against the run of play on 15 minutes.
They were dealt a hammer blow on 26 minutes when Danny Heemskerk was shown a straight red card.
Cashmere Technical capitalised ruthlessly and inside 10 minutes, they punished for a commanding 6-0 lead at the break.
The second half was more balanced, with both sides enjoying periods of possession, but Cashmere Technical were clinical with their sharpness in front of goal and ability to exploit the extra space, adding three more goals.
The Royals travelled to Selwyn looking to bounce back after last week’s loss in Nelson.
But Selwyn took the lead in the 38th minute when they regained possession in their own half, and a passing movement opened up the Royals, with Blake Lang threading a pass in behind the defence for Liam Coleman.
Keeper Alex Boomer saved his initial shot but Coleman got the rebound.
The Royals were dealt a blow when instrumental midfielder Kazik Swain fell awkwardly in the buildup and left the field.
Selwyn made sure of the three points when they scored their second goal in the 76th minute through a long goal-kick clearance that found substitute Finlay Cotton, who had a only been on for three minutes.
Northern jumped to second with a come from behind 2-1 victory against Nelson at Logan Park.
Nelson took a 75th minute lead from a corner that saw Seb Hickman’s powerful header well saved by Eli Urwin.
The rebound was cleared and Urwin saved the follow-up, but could not deny Johnny Reynolds scoring the fourth attempt.
Northern equalised five minutes later, when Nick Brett chased down a long ball.
They secured the win in the 83rd minute when a deep inswinging corner was met at the far post by Nick Treadwell.
Christchurch United continued their unexpectedly poor start to the season going down 1-0 to Ferrymead Bays.
Nomads United beat Coastal Spirit 3-2 to register their first win.
- In the Southern Premiership, Queens Park secured early bragging rights in the local Invercargill derby trouncing Old Boys 5-0.
Calem Castle and Zac Owen-Gear scored in the first four minutes and Cameron Johnson bagged a brace.
Northern Hearts won an entertaining match over University 3-2.
It was level at the break with Krish Nair’s 35th minute penalty for the students cancelling out Josh Yates 10th minute own goal.
Blake Fairbairn had the students ahead early in the second half with Hearts equalising when speedster Kowin Hancock raced through on the hour mark.
Bailey Chambers’ goal after 73 minutes settled the game.
Northern retained the Blair Davidson trophy beating Mosgiel 1-0.
In a game of very few clear-cut chances, a contentious corner in the 40th minute saw Aiden Kelly’s effort hit the under-side of the crossbar and land just over the line.
The Royals beat Green Island 1-0 thanks to Jonty Hill’s first half injury time goal.
- Neville Watson
