A crushing 8-0 defeat by Mosgiel has abruptly halted Green Island's progress from the nether regions of Footballsouth's Premier League.
Without a win, Green Island had soared upwards by beating Queenstown and Spirit FC, and taking four points from Northern but, at Sunnyvale on Saturday, coach Rod Fleming's team was unrecognisable.
In the first minute, Island hit Mosgiel's woodwork, but a series of goalkeeping errors and defensive blunders allowed Mosgiel to boost its tally with slick passing that sliced through the green opposition.
Goals came in clutches. There were a pair of hat tricks for Tim Dunn and Steve Kibby, joined by Morgan Day and Cam Will, which lifts Mosgiel into second place three points behind leader Dunedin Technical.
Mosgiel keeper Pat Howell showed his versatility by coming on as a late substitute, and as targetman showed some subtle touches, but Kibby, Day and Dunn were the aces in Mosgiels pack.
At Memorial Park, Northern left it late before Tim Smith scored two goals without reply against University in a match that for the most part featured more passing than penetrative play, and injuries to Arran Wilkinson and Varsity's Luke Macris were the main talking points.
Grants Braes earned its third draw in four matches against Queenstown, where Saad Ali continued his striking form and Darren Mills scored for the Central Otago side.
