Aaron Burgess spearheaded Dunedin Technical to a 4-0 win over the Otago Youth Development side at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, to earn the side top spot in the Footballsouth Premier League.
Two goals to Burgess, one to Alistair Rickerby and one to substitute James Govan completed the scoring on a day in which 19 goals were scored in four matches.
Technical was always in control against the Otago side but coach Neil Mackenzie took heart from a hard-working display by the youngsters to keep the score to 1-0 in the first half in hot conditions.
Technical passed the ball well, with Blair Scoullar composed at the back, Ross McKenzie full of drive in midfield and Burgess pairing well with the hard-running Rickerby.
Technical lost McKenzie with a shoulder injury, and has also lost Malcolm Fleming from the coaching staff due to a management change.
Frontrunner Michael Still stood out for Otago, receiving the ball well, and setting up some second-phase attacks which created several shots at goal, but the youngsters faded in the second half.
In the late Caledonian game, University beat Green Island 2-1 in a match full of goalmouth action.
Ryan Atherton opened the scoring for Green Island after 20 minutes, but James Coombes beat veteran Island keeper Wayne Mansfield with a strong header just before half-time, and John Land scored the winner.
At Ellis Park, Roslyn-Wakari beat a strong Queenstown side 2-1 ith both sides enjoying periods of domination.
In-form striker Sean Brand was set up by a far-post header by Tim Witten-Saga and bulleted Roslyn ahead.
Shortly afterwards, player-coach Terry Boylan was bowled in the penalty area and Ben Keats scored from the spot.
But Queenstown, captained by another Ross Mackenzie, battled back and after Steve Stocks narrowed the score to 2-1, it required a backs-to-the-wall effort by Roslyn to secure its win.
Spirit FC overwhelmed Northern 4-1 at Tahuna where new player-coach Barry Gardiner scored twice in a virtuoso performance, while fellow Scots import Craig Milne anchored at centre-back.
Northern was without Arran Wilkinson and his brother Craig was injured, but the Magpies were full of running.
The flaw was the finishing, apart from a well-taken goal by Seamus Gray.
Mosgiel made a solid start by beating Grants Braes 3-1 at Ocean Grove.
Braes has signed former Roslyn midfielder Jamie Taylor and managed a goal from Myles Pomfret, but the Plainsmen were too strong.
Goals by Shayne Danielson, Regan Coldicott and Phil Kelly indicate the attacking talent Mosgiel player-coach Mike McGarry has at his disposal.
