A late winner gave Wanaka a 1-0 win over the newly crowned champion in a game of contrasting styles in the Southern Premier League on Saturday.
Green Island sought to impose its long-ball game and play through and off the robust Matt Brazier, while Wanaka looked to play a shorter passing game.
It was Green Island which attacked early and Brazier twice found himself putting the ball in the net from offside positions in the first 20 minutes.
Wanaka’s Steve Pleskun forced a save from Christian Firth in the 10th minute, and then blazed over the bar from a handy position after 15 minutes.
Adam Hewson was making dangerous runs down the left wing, but not quite finding that final pass or shot.
In the 65th minute, a long goal kick from Firth found Brazier, who flicked on to the run of Liam Carrington.
He continued his run into the box and collided with Wanaka keeper Aaron Molloy.
Green Island appealed for a penalty which was initially given but was was overturned after a review.
Wanaka continued to absorb the pressure, before a 93rd-minute winner.
Scott Mitchell clipped a tantalising ball in behind the defence from halfway and, with Firth coming off his line, Pleskun nipped in and headed the ball into the empty net.
Mosgiel beat University 4-1 on the back of a dominant first half.
Cam Anderson was to the fore.
His through ball to Matt Kelly, who from 35m out looked up and saw University custodian Luke Schaffer-Swan off his line and half-volleyed into the roof of the net, set up the first goal.
Anderson then won a penalty in the 35th minute when he was fouled with the ball at his feet.
He drove the resultant penalty low and hard to his left.
Rory Findlay then took the ball down the right wing on halftime and, with the defence backpedalling, he drifted inside and scored with his left foot into the far corner.
Finn Cattaway made it 4-0 in the 56th minute, before Dom Scahill got one back for University on 67 minutes.
Roslyn Wakari downed Northern 4-0.
Luke Clissold put Roslyn one up in the first and then, after two great saves from Roslyn keeper Tom Stevens early in the second half, Yunny Chang Sung doubled the lead.
Matt Cordelle came off the bench to make it 3-0, before Clissold added his second from a free kick in the final minutes.
Goals to Jan Kumar and Daniel Bocatios gave Queenstown a lead which it held to beat Caversham 3-1.
Kaleb de Groot-Green pulled one back for Caversham, before Thomas Mills restored the two-goal margin.
- Neville Watson
