ODT Southern Premier League Round 3:

Roslyn Wakari 2-2 Otago University (HT 2-1)
Roslyn Wakari returned to Forrester Park for the third time in a row to face a University side that had won its opening two matches. With the wind at their backs, the students took the lead in the 18th minute through Ben Stanley who pounced onto a loose ball at the edge of the box, firing a low driven shot past keeper Tom Stevens and into the corner. Roslyn replied almost instantly after Nathan Wilkie was fouled in the box, and 15-year-old Oliver Colloty stepped up and fired it home.

Both teams had chances to take the lead but failed to beat the respective Tom's in goals. It was University's Tom Fitall, standing in for the suspended Stewart Catto, who was beaten late in the half after some nice build-up play saw stand-in skipper Luke Clissold score from close range, putting University behind for the first time this season. It was Stevens' turn to be beaten in the 56th minute, when Uni captain Dom Scahill converted a penalty to level it back up at 2-2. Although both teams played with energy looking for a winner, neither side could break the deadlock. 
 

Wanaka 2-1 Northern (HT 1-1)
A glorious sunny day welcomed Northern for Wanaka's first home game of the season. The home team started the match in a positive fashion, dominating possession and getting efforts on goal through youngsters Toa Roode and Fletcher Cavanagh, who forced a couple of superb saves from Northern keeper Yerren Van Sint Annaland. Northern's counter-attacks were generally being dealt with by the Wanaka back three, marshalled by the experienced Blair Scoullar. It was the visitors however who took the lead in the 38th minute, when a free-kick from debutant Louis Gray from 35 yards out was well struck and took a wicked deflection, looping over a helpless Britton Dowling in goals for Wanaka.

Wanaka quickly responded when Weston Bell and Paul Hodgson combined, with Hodgson finding Barry Grehan 22 yards out in the centre of the field. Grehan calmly eluded his defender and his shot curled over the Northern goalkeeper to level the scores at the halftime break.

Danillo Santana was brought on at the break for the home team, and it was an inspired change by coach Ian Bell as just two minutes later the Brazilian found a pocket of space between the lines and calmly picked out the bottom left corner from 20 yards out to put his team in front. Wanaka had further chances on goal, including an Alex Plimmer rocket from distance and a header from Steve Pleskun that both cannoned off the crossbar. Northern had chances to equalise and did force a couple of saves late in the game from Dowling, however the match finished 2-1 with Wanaka picking up their second win of the season.
 

Southland United 5-1 Queenstown (HT 3-0)
Southland caused the upset of the round, picking up their first win of the season and ending Queenstown's perfect start to the season with an emphatic 5-1 win in Invercargill. Southland started the game well and took an early lead when a nice move was finished off at the back post by a David Schipper header. Queenstown fought to get back into the match but they were rocked by further Southand goals courtesy of Jack Boland and Davi Stemler, putting the home team up 3-0 at the break.

Queenstown began the second half well, getting more of a foothold in the game but Southland held firm and Jack Boland scored his second to put his team in a commanding position four goals up. Queenstown finally hit back with a well-taken free kick from striker Carlos Herrmann, but Southland's Stemler put the icing on the cake late on with his second goal of the day to wrap up a memorable victory.
 

Green Island 2-3 Dunedin Technical (HT 1-0)
Sunnyvale lived up to its name, where Dunedin Technical overturned a halftime deficit to defeat Green Island. Max Johnston scored the only goal of the first half to put the home team in front, and Matt Brazier doubled the lead soon after the break. Halftime substitute Rhys Quarrell got Technical on the scoreboard soon after the break, and it was another couple of substitutes who scored late goals to give the defending champions their first win of the season; Oliver Sutcliffe and a stoppage-time winner from Robert Chima sealing the victory.
 

Mosgiel 1-0 Caversham (HT 1-0)
A beautiful sunny day, a big crowd and a very good surface greeted Caversham and Mosgiel at Memorial Park. Mosgiel started the better, peppering the Cavy goal with corners but it was Caversham that had the first clear chance with a sweeping move that ended with a Jed Collings cross being headed goalbound by Connor Neil, only for the Mosgiel keeper to make the first of four very good saves over the course of the match.

Mosgiel continued to dominate the half as Caversham gave too much space and the only goal of the game came from that. Mosgiel's Cody Brook won a 50/50 challenge and wasn't closed down, smashing a 25 yard shot into the top corner. Caversham battled back and dominated much of the second half. A pair of very good saves and a saved penalty summed up Caversham's afternoon as Mosgiel held on to win 1-0, solidifying their spot at the top of the table as the only team with a perfect winning record after three rounds and yet to concede a goal. 

Kingsgate Women's Premier League R1:

Dunedin Technical 5-2 Roslyn Wakari
Queenstown 6-0 Mosgiel
Green Island 1-0 University 2nds  

Defending champions and Kate Sheppard Cup winners Dunedin Technical got their season off to a great start, beating old foes Roslyn Wakari 5-2 at Tahuna Park. Technical scored two early goals before Roslyn got one back from a well-executed corner. Roslyn then pounced on a mistake to equalise and went to the sheds with the scores locked at 2-2. Technical, featuring three debutants, wrested control again in the second half and ended up convincing 5-2 victors. Mikayla Gray starred with a hat-trick, while Emily Morison and Tehya Sweeney also scored for Technical.

New Premier side Mosgiel had a tough start to the season, conceding six to an impressive Queenstown side. Meanwhile at Sunnyvale, Green Island and University 2nds both played high-quality football at times but it was a single goal from a set-piece that gave the home team a win first-up.

- Compiled by Morgan Jarvis. Email corrections etc to morgan.jarvis@gmail.com

Article added: Sunday 07 April 2019