Key goal-scorers for Caversham were Harley Rodeka and Tom Jackson, but news that both players are leaving Otago put a slight dampener on the cup win.
It was definitely Jackson's last game for Caversham. He will either feature in the US draft system, or intends to head for Europe, to try his luck there.
Rodeka showed his class with a bulleting header after 15 minutes, but will be playing for Napier in ASB National League, instead of Otago United.
Caversham also started without Seamus Ryder, away on holiday in Europe, and Matt Bruin, who had family commitments.
So coach Richard Murray's side did well to storm into a 3-0 lead against Roslyn, and that should have ensured the win, thanks to goals by Rodeka, Jackson and centreback Jude Fitzpatrick.
But cup football is as much about spirit as clever football, and in a vastly improved second half coach Colin Thom's Roslyn made amends by pulling goals back.
Club top-scorer James Govan planted a strong header past Caversham keeper Callum Flaws, and as time ran out, Roslyn captain Sam Mepham rammed in another goal that had Flaws again digging the ball out of his net.
Then Caversham's earlier composure evaporated as Roslyn won a series of corners and freekicks that even featured Roslyn's big keeper Peter Evans moving forward to use his height in the goal-mouth melee.
But referee Jeff Clamp, who did not issue any cards in the well-run contest, eventually blew for full time, and it was handshakes all round as the animated crowd headed home.
Dunedin Technical struck a blow for southern supremacy on Saturday by beating Coastal Spirit 2-0 in Christchurch on Saturday, a win that delighted coach Mike Fridge.
Without ace striker Aaron Burgess and several supporting cast such as Richard Smith, Sam Enright, Dave Hayman and George Milne, Technical never relinquished control of the cup tie.
"Number-wise, our squad was stretched to the limit, but the boys who came in did a great job in a difficult away fixture," Fridge said.
Alistair Rickerby shot Technical ahead in the eighth minute, and tall defender Liam Lockhart made the score 2-0 after 32 minutes.
Technical, as South Island champion and FootballSouth titleholder, comfortably absorbed Coastal Spirit's retaliatory pressure. Captain Tristan Prattley was named Technical's player of the day.
Less fortunate was Luiz Uehara's University side which lost 1-0 to Western, when Jacob Allen scored the only goal of the match after 77 minutes. Cashmere Technical knocked out Nelson Suburbs 2-0, thanks to goals by Ken Yamamoto, and Nick Wortelboer.
