Chatman Cup matches gave spectators their money's worth as 20 penalty kicks and 10 hours play were required to settle ties at the weekend.
Fitness became an important factor as five matches played an extra half-hour above the normal 90 minutes, and then some rubber legs were faced with the trauma of penalty shoot-outs.
An experienced goalkeeper is handy in shoot-outs, and Matt Chambers, of Northern Hearts, filled the bill at Ocean Grove where Grants Braes went down 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 scoreline after two hours of play.
Timaru keeper Chambers twice dived low to his left to parry two of Braes' five penalties and, during the match, the keeper was no less impressive as he defied gravity with two superb full-length dives that denied the Braes strikers.
The visiting side hit the ground running with an explosive start that earned a fourth-minute goal when Tymon Bernard shocked the home support with a well taken strike on the break.
Hearts had balanced strength, with former Green Island striker Rowan Hewson and evergreen Todd Burtenshaw generating incisive attacks which left the Braes crossbar vibrating after one counter attack.
Braes played its way back into the game and, when Peter Alcock equalised just before halftime, coach Al Laidler looked forward to more improvement in the second half.
He was not disappointed as Braes dominated possession and delivered quality ball into the Hearts penalty area.
Lack of commitment and sparse support however kept Braes scoreless in that second spell.
Referee Edward Cook was a busy man as play intensified in extra time, and some tired tackles were a bit late.
Each side hit the woodwork, and both had a goal disallowed for offside.
In the penalty shoot-out Hearts keeper earned his side its well celebrated 5-3 win.
A similar situation took place at Sunnyvale, where Green Island's nerve held after a scoreless two hours' play, and coach Malcolm Fleming's side drilled in five penalties to three by Northern.
A predictably feisty clash between Mosgiel and Queenstown Rovers at Memorial Park also went the distance plus extra time in that cup-tie, but as penalties were looming, Morgan Day slammed in Mosgiel's winner for a 3-2 result.
Invercargill teams followed suit with extra time twice being needed as Old Boys beat Queens Park 4-2, and Southend United downed Waihopai 3-2.
At the Caledonian Ground, Roy Race did not turn up for Melchester Rovers and Roslyn-Wakari cantered to a 6-0 win, despite sterling efforts by Melchester veterans Neil Wright, Paul Cameron and Kenny Campbell.
