Rapier attacks produced eight goals when Caversham beat Northern 5-3, and in the main game at the Caledonian Ground, a slugfest had Dunedin Technical beat Roslyn-Wakari 1-0.
Despite the meagre goal tally, there was goal-mouth action aplenty and high skill levels in the main game, but there was less space available, as both sides pressed high and tackled hard.
Technical was without midfielder Victor da Costa but a grinding performance by George Milne set high standards, and Richard Smith led the attack with style.
Roslyn earned equal ball possession and strung passes together, but despite Fraser Cameron's hard running in attack, and some slicing runs from deep by Tom Connor, coach Colin Thom's side did not get enough shots on target.
Technical twice clipped Roslyn's woodwork, but its ace strategy was at set plays. Long throws, freekicks and corners stretched defenders James Watson and Chris Fernando and required keeper Danniel Becheri to make several elastic high takes.
Striker Smith's ability to hang in the air and glance balls across goal, and the more straightforward menace of Matt Joy's aerial power attack, gave Technical an edge that won the game.
Just after halftime, Liam Lockhart finished off a spell of goal-mouth pressure with a rare right-footed goal that earned maximum points.
Delighted Technical coach Mike Fridge praised the hard-fought game as a spectacle that all supporters enjoyed, and ''two games, two wins and two clean sheets also makes me very happy''.
Caversham romped to a 3-0 lead by halftime in the early game, and a cricket score looked in the offing when coach Tim Horner's side stretched its tally to 5-0 with goals by Ant Hancock (two), Ryan Hickling, Evan Jones and Abel Banda.
But credit to Northern for resilience, and Caversham's poise vanished as goals by Cam Higgins, James O'Callaghan and Jim Headley reignited hope for coach Murray Devereux's team. Caversham fullback Craig Ferguson was vocal as he urged his side not to drop its standards, and Horner came on himself, to steady the ship.
There was no further scoring, but Northern left the field with a spring in its step, confident it can clearly compete at FPL level.
On its home patch in Invercargill, Old Boys picked up its first win, beating Grants Braes 3-0. Goals came from Robbie Goodwillie (two) and Barry Gardiner.
Craig Doble's Green Island continued to impress with a 4-0 win in Queenstown, and at Memorial Park, University set Mosgiel back on its heels with a 3-0 win.
Coach Luiz Uehara's students are playing pass-and-run football that opens up defences, and goals from Peter Rae (two) and Josh Jones justified University's position at the top of the league.
