A strong start by Roslyn almost evaporated when Lewis Jackson counter-attacked after 20 minutes to give Green Island the lead. Near the break, Damian Foster equalised with a close-range header.
Joel Stevens put the Island back into the lead but, in a pulsating finish, big Roslyn centreback Chris Fernando rose at the far post to bullet a strong header and tie the match at 2-2.
At Forsyth Barr Stadium, University and Old Boys slugged it out, with breakaways, corners and free kicks requiring both keepers to leap around. In one torrid late attack, Varsity triumphed when Logan Wrightweb nodded in a 92nd-minute header that sparked student celebrations.
Old Boys had battled all game and, in Barry Gardiner and Bara'a Toubat, the Invercargill side had two good midfield organisers. Possibly, it was another step in Varsity's team development, as its pace and skills brought little reward. Peter Rae drove a superb shot against the opposition goal upright, and the dazzling footwork of Ifeanyi Unamadu always threatened.
Varsity matched its classy play with unremitting hard work, and it was old-fashioned grunt and grind that eventually broke Invercargill and earned the late goal.
Coach Luiz Uehara singled out Wrightweb's all-round performance and his header - the second in two games - as Varsity's highlight.
For Old Boys captain Marsh, it was ''nice to hear that we were valiant, but we really came for three points and are extremely disappointed''.
Grants Braes sent a tremor through Ocean Grove as Alan Laidler's bottom-placed side went two goals up over Caversham, but the champion bounced back to eventually win 4-2, with goals by Ant Hancock (two), Mitch Carter and the returned Bradley Scott. Patrick Ebanda scored both goals for Braes.
At the Caledonian Ground, Alistair Rickerby hit four goals in Dunedin Technical's 6-0 demolition of Northern. The return of Victor da Costa prompted play from midfield, Richard Smith unsettled with his aerial power, and an animated coach Mike Fridge demanded - and got - high-pressure play that Northern struggled to match.
Northern coach Murray Devereux was disappointed with the performance.
''We started two short, since our keeper broke a bone in his hand last week, and too many passes went astray, but we still made plenty of chances - just could not put them away.''
At Memorial Park, Mosgiel and Queenstown treated spectators to seven goals. Unfortunately for the Plainsmen, it was Queenstown that finally edged ahead 4-3.
Brazilian Carlos Herrmann scored twice and Tom Cairns also chimed in with two goals. Mosgiel's scorers were Aaron Corkhill, Phil Kelly and Tim Dunn.
The annual Green Island junior seven-a-side tournament was abandoned because of wet weather yesterday. It has been rescheduled for this Sunday.
