The four remaining local teams squared off for a place in the Chatham Cup’s final 16 on Saturday.
Otago University travelled to Sunnyvale to take on Green Island in a repeat of last week’s league match.
When Cam Anderson broke through early on it looked like the Island might repeat its victory.
However, the chance went begging and the students made them pay — the beginning of a 5-1 romp.
University’s diminutive playmaker Oban Hawkins opened the scoring after five minutes.
Green Island had the opportunity to equalise when Tom Milton stepped up for a free kick after 27 minutes.
However, his great shot was equally well saved by Neil Achary.
It was University’s turn for a free kick a minute later on the edge of the box.
Hawkins stepped up and sublimely bent the ball around the wall into the right corner of the goal.
The students made the game safe when a defensive error turned the ball over in the Island’s six yard box and En Watanabe made no mistake.
Green Island still offered plenty going forward and its front three of Adam Hewson, Bryon Heath and Anderson were still threatening.
However Achary was in top form and following a spell of Island pressure, where the students’ defence had Tom Stewart and Tim O’Farrell resolute, Jack Kelly broke away and his deflected shot on 36 minutes made it 4-0.
Into the second half, Cam Anderson’s header cannoned off the crossbar and six minutes later his 25m drive was unable to get past Achary.
The Island got the goal it deserved when Hewson made a mazy run into the penalty box and his shot found the bottom corner, on 72 minutes.
The students had the final say when Jack Kelly’s own mazy run down the left wing got the ball delivered to Watanabe to scissor-kick the final goal for a 5-1 win on 79 minutes.
They will be joined in next round’s draw by the South City Royals, who also had an emphatic 4-0 victory away to Wanaka — all the goals coming in the first half.
Will Turner scored the first goal, reacting quickest to Connor Neil’s free kick that deflected off the wall.
Neil got the second as he followed up from Ryan Fleming’s run into the box. Fleming’s shot was well-saved by Josh Shackleton and Neil pounced on the rebound.
Turner made it 3-0 when he swivelled to hit a half volley into the bottom corner from a corner.
The Royals’ fourth goal came after Callan Rothmets’ great run from his own half left three defenders trailing in his wake and his cross was met by Ryan Fleming.
In the next round they could be drawn against one of two remaining Christchurch teams. Christchurch United had a 3-0 lead at halftime against Coastal Spirit.
The Spirit fought back to 3-3 with 17 minutes left.
However, former Dunedin player Ollie Colloty got the 80th-minute winner in United’s 4-3 win.
The last remaining South Island team is Cashmere Tech, which beat Nelson Suburbs 7-3.
- By Neville Watson
