Caversham beat Cashmere Technical 4-2 at Tonga Park, and Dunedin Technical beat Western 1-0 at Tahuna Park.
The Caversham score would have you believe victory was achieved with some comfort. In reality it was anything but.
Caversham spent the majority of the game camped in its own half, defending grimly. But the South Dunedin club had a couple trumps cards.
Quality finishing from striker Tom Jackson and midfielder Tim Cook, and some agile work in the goal by Liam Little, proved the difference.
Even Caversham coach Richard Murray had to concede his side was probably a little lucky.
"We didn't play that well, really," he said.
"But we were just so lethal counterattacking and have got some good finishers in there."
Remarkably, Caversham led 3-0 at halftime despite having only made half a-dozen or so forays into scoring positions.
Cook opened the scoring in the fourth minute, slotting the ball wide of the keeper after a blundered clearance.
The visitors looked stunned.
They had dominated the early exchanges and quickly swung back on to attack.
The found plenty of space on the left flank and probably should have scored in the 13min when Shawn O'Brien's header sailed just wide of the post.
Instead Caversham extended its lead when a fine ball from Will Smith found Jackson in space and he smashed it into the corner of the net.
He bagged another in the second half to cap off a fine game.
Cashmere's keeper, Eddie Ashton, never looked convincing in the air and was partly responsible for Caversham's third goal.
A long throw from Jackson found Cook at the far post.
The keeper lunged one-handed but missed and Cook nodded in.
Cashmere kept attacking but seemed to lack the expected desperation.
Ricky Hulbert was a notable exception.
The striker had several promising opportunities but Little swatted those away.
The keeper really was tremendous value for the home side, as was left back Craig Ferguson.
It took an own goal to breach Caversham's defence. Simon Ward deflected the ball into the goal when he tried to clear a shot from Ken Yamamoto.
Yamamoto got a consolation goal in the final moments, when he headed in from a corner.
Chatham Cup
The scores from yesterday
At Tonga Park
Caversham 4
Cashmere Technical 2
At Tahuna Park
Dunedin Technical 1
Western 0
