Caversham unveiled its new English striker at Memorial Park.
However, it was not Dave Dugdale but the quicksilver Tom Jackson who starred in the 8-0 rout of Mosgiel on Saturday.
Jackson scored five goals to draw level with Aaron Burgess at the top of the Golden Boot race.
Both have now scored 19 goals in the premier league this season.
The barrage of goals was repeated elsewhere as Dunedin Technical hit Green Island for six, with Burgess scoring early before he went off injured, and Roslyn-Wakari rammed in five goals in Queenstown.
A noticeable gap has developed between the "big three" and other premier sides, not just in skill but also in fitness as intensity has waned in these final matches.
Caversham looked a couple of yards sharper than coach Mike McGarry's Mosgiel side, which was sluggish and paid the penalty, conceding two goals in the first 5min.
A deft lay-off by Dugdale set Jackson up for his first goal, and the bumpy surface caused Mosgiel keeper Pat Howell to mis-hit a clearance to Tim Cook, who stroked Caversham into a 2-0 lead.
Late-arriving spectators were surprised to hear the score, but not half as stunned as shellshocked Mosgiel, which looked a shadow of the team that played so well at Ellis Park last week.
Phil Kelly did manage a decent header that forced a diving save from Caversham keeper Liam Little, back from New Zealand Olympic duty.
Despite Colin Falvey and McGarry trying to calm things down, Mosgiel still gave too much ball away, and allowed the rampant reds too much space.
A delicate lob by Dugdale curled in, then the new striker broke through and rounded keeper Howell, and at half-time Mosgiel trudged off four goals down.
After the break, Steve Fleming gave his bench a run and, if anything, the new legs increased Mosgiel's woes.
Some solo runs by Alistair Rickerby and a few set-plays were the best the Plainsmen could muster.
Jackson scored four goals in the second half, and typified Caversham's ability to punish Mosgiel mistakes. Roslyn's 5-1 win in Queenstown sets up a mouthwatering final match against Caversham next week, while Technical's winning form is likely to continue against Mosgiel.
Goals by Jim Headley and Jason Burgess gave Northern its 2-1 win over Grants Braes and at the Caledonian ground, University drew 2-2 with Spirit FC.
