For Caversham it was the last game of the season. Clearly there was solace in having won the FPL championship, and coach Tim Horner still has the South Island championship in his sights.
That match, against Mainland champion Cashmere Technical, is in Dunedin on September 5.
Continuity has favoured Dunedin Technical in recent weeks.
Technical coach Aaron Burgess sportingly pointed out that while his side had played three matches in a week, Caversham had not had a competition match for three weeks and will have another week's gap before the championship match.
Spectators who turned up at sun drenched Tonga Park were treated to a high paced game full of skill and endeavour, on a surprisingly good surface.
Honours were even in the first half, with both sides making chances and both goalkeepers seeing some action. Lewis Jackson had a couple of half chances, which had his brother Tom twitching on the sideline - both he and defender Craig Ferguson were not available.
Technical's front two, Alistair Rickerby and Taylor McCormack, were sharp and busy, playing in front of Josh Stewart and as usual getting good service from Technical's wide players, especially Tim McLennan.
Rickerby went close with a shot that left Caversham's crossbar vibrating, then at the other end, the ball ended up in Technical's net but, after discussion between match officials, no goal was awarded.
It was scoreless at halftime as the two teams cancelled each other out and space was almost non existent in both goal areas.
Then, in the 50th minute, Rickerby did find space among Caversham's big defence, and nodded a sharp header down past keeper Callum Flaws to open the scoring.
Teams are most fragile just after having scored, and Caversham equalised almost immediately, as Seamus Ryder carved in from the right wing and beat Tom Batty with a low ground shot.
The game opened up as both sides chased what would obviously be an important goal. Andrew Ridden's high energy game produced a 45m shot that sailed by Technical's woodwork, then McCormack deftly headed a cross marginally wide.
McCormack, however, made the breakthrough as swivelling under pressure, he managed to drill in a shot that had maroon scarves waving, as Technical gained a 63rd minute 2-1 lead.
Both sides made a series of substitutions and maybe lost team shape a little, as passing broke down and fewer moves were productive.
Technical scored its safety goal after 83 minutes as McLennan got his reward for an effective hard working game. After some spirited Caversham attacks, referee Edward Cook blew for full time, with some finality since it was his last game before moving to Wellington.
Mosgiel took the honours in its rural derby with Green Island. The two young teams played intense end to end football, but it was Morgan Day who clipped in a Rahan Ali pass to open the scoring after 25 minutes.
Both teams strived for superiority in the second half, and after a midfield confrontation Eder Franchini was sent off, but the 10 man Mosgiel side stayed calm and with 10 minutes to go, Cody Brook drifted past defenders to clinch the 2-0 result with a well taken goal.
