Caversham's killer touch in front of goal earned a 3-1 win over University in possibly the best game yet of the FootballSouth Premier League season, at Tonga Park on Saturday.
Apart from a couple of boggy patches, the ground was in good nick, the grass was tolerably short and both sides showed excellent skills, pace and fitness.
There was no initial sparring. Shots whistled goalwards from referee Calvin Berg's starting whistle, and both keepers showed good awareness and safe hands.
Varsity's Jeferson Potrich had some extra responsibility since, with Luiz Ueahara overseas, the big keeper was also coach for the day.
Caversham might have been light due to Andrew Ridden and Tore Waechey being unavailable due to exams, but coach Tim Horner had the pick of his table-topping reserve side, which played a curtain-raiser and confirmed its pedigree and nine-point lead with a 5-1 win over Varsity's seconds.
Suspended striker Tom Jackson still cuts a forlorn figure on the touchlines, and Horner opted for experience, selecting Tim Cook and Brad Scott in the senior squad.
So, there were a few old heads around, but also some smooth-cheeked youngsters who shone, such as Brett Clifford, Sam Collier and Lewis Jackson in full attacking mode. In defence, Michael Hogan matched the skills of the evergreen Craig Ferguson.
Varsity fielded a strong combination with Peter Overmire and Logan Wrightwebb in central defence and keeper-coach Potrich showing athletic form.
Yet the hard-nosed student defence that has conceded only four goals all season was breached after just 12 minutes when Collier darted through to score the first of his two goals.
University responded with some good breakaway attacks. Peter Rae looked sharp, and the bearded Noah Woliner put in a dynamic shift as he combined with Jeremy Fong in moves that threatened to unbalance Caversham's backline.
But ''threaten'' was the key word, since apart from some spring-heeled jumping at set plays by Wrightwebb and Overmire, which was matched by keeper Liam Little, the University side's ammunition looked damp.
Clifford made the score 3-0 after 83 minutes and it was getting dark when Rae's well taken late goal for University hit the net in the 92nd minute.
Potrich conceded that Caversham made more chances and finished better, but ''had we scored earlier, that might have swung the match in our direction'', he said.
Caversham has developed into an intimidating combination with impressive depth and Horner was more than pleased with the result, and the quality of play that keeps his side top of the FPL.
Snapping at the leader's heels, second-placed Dunedin Technical had to work hard to beat a young Roslyn-Wakari side 2-1 at Ellis Park.
Golden boot leader Taylor McCormack delivered a cross that ended up in Roslyn's net - referees declared it an own goal - and Alistair Rickerby laced in a superb shot for Technical's second.
Roslyn coach Colin Thom praised his side, and the build-up to Roslyn's goal, a multi-pass movement finishing with a cheeky dummy by Mike Sannum and a clinical finish by Geordie Mansford.
It was blitzkrieg time at Memorial Park, with Mosgiel looking comfortable in the lead until Queenstown scored three second-half goals in 12 minutes, with Olli Ceci and Carlos Hermann on target. However, Mosgiel hit back with a late goal to grab a 4-4 draw.
Northern started without regular Zin Khant Aung and needed a fitness test for Craig Wilkinson, but registered a 2-0 win over Green Island at the Caledonian Ground to stay in fifth place.
