Caversham and Dunedin Technical slugged out a 2-2 draw in the Premier League match played on Saturday.
Caversham's Mike Smith earned his second yellow card late in the match and trudged off, head down, as Technical fizzed in the final moments, chasing a win over 10-man Caversham.
When Darren Overton opened the scoring with a sizzling 23rd minute spectacular goal, Caversham hit overdrive and dominated possession.
Amid flowing moves, it was no surprise when Ant Hancock doubled the home side's lead with a dipping shot just after half-time.
Credit had to go to Technical for not folding, and coach Mike Fridge's side clawed back into contention.
Tristan Prattley clouted a freekick against Caversham's woodwork, then Alistair Rickerby scored after a goal-mouth melee in the 60th minute.
Clever movement in the box earned Aaron Burgess space that should not have existed and when a searching right wing cross arrived, limping or not, he headed a classic striker's goal before completely losing his limp in a victory lap.
Two goals in three minutes had Caversham buckling, but Steve Fleming's team also showed fortitude to bounce back, and play flowed from end to end.
The final whistle had Fridge praising his side's comeback, while Fleming felt that his side should have consolidated its early two-goal lead.
Grants Braes shocked the football establishment with a stirring 5-3 win over Invercargill side Spirit at Ocean Grove, all the more remarkable since Spirit led 3-2 at half-time.
With an ear-to-ear smile, Braes coach Alan Laidler praised an all-round team effort which included a hat-trick by Ashley Hodges, while Spirit's goals came from imports Barry Gardiner and Mark Caldow, who got a brace.
The result lifts Braes up the table above University, Queenstown, Spirit and Green Island.
At Ellis Park, Roslyn-Wakari spread the goals in its 4-0 win over Green Island, with Tim Witten-Sage, Peter Rae, Sam Mepham and James Govan scoring.
A hat-trick by Shayne Danielson spearheaded Mosgiel to a 4-1 win over Northern, despite Mosgiel's most experienced players Mike McGarry and Mike Abbott being suspended.
At the Caledonian ground, coach Luiz Uehara's University side ground out a 1-1 draw with Queenstown.
