Caversham thumped Northern 15-0 earlier this season but found the going much tougher at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Thursday night.
Despite being short of regular first-choice players, Northern ran Caversham close and actually led 3-2 late in the Football South Premier League game.
But the defending champion reversed some indifferent form to equalise through Tom Jackson in the 82nd minute, before Sam Cosgrave provided a cross for Tore Waechter to flick in an 84th-minute winner.
Another midweek match at the stadium is on Tuesday at 6.30pm, when Green Island and Dunedin Technical will enjoy the experience.
Today, there will be two cup ties at the Caledonian Ground, with a Chatham Cup clash between Dunedin Technical and Mosgiel at 2.15pm preceded by the Women's Knock-Out Cup game between Technical and Coastal Spirit at 11.15am.
Dunedin Technical dominates the cup scene, with both men's and women's teams aiming to progress past the quarterfinals.
Technical's men last tasted glory in the 1999 Chatham Cup final, beating Waitakere 4-0, having lost the previous year's final.
Technical survivors from the 1999 final are player-coach Aaron Burgess and Justin Flaws, while former All White Graham Marshal is locally involved coaching and Ian Bell is still playing in Wanaka.
In an earlier round this season, Burgess was still prominent with a hat trick, as Technical blasted past Northern Hearts with a 10-0 win.
Technical's recent league form has been good, and Burgess has depth in his squad and clearly would like to emulate the cup win of 1999.
Mosgiel's cup record is a bit dustier, having reached the finals in 1938 and 1940, but coach Andrew Brook's side is third in the league and capable of producing winning football.
If the coach can muster a fit side without absentees, the Plainsmen will at least be competitive, and with the league championship slipping away, Brook will ask his squad for a big effort in the cup.
Coastal Spirit won the women's cup in 2013, but Technical is in good form with returning players from college football such as Chelsea Whittaker and Shontelle Smith adding drive to Technical's attack.
