Green Island secured three points and moved out of the Southern League relegation zone with a deserved 4-3 win over Coastal Spirit in Sunnyvale on Saturday.
The team was missing some of its star players and responded well to the game plan of coaches Shane Carvell and Stu Moffats.
Just as Coastal began to gain possession and territory with Cameron Rean just a toe away from the opening goal, Green Island took the lead in the 18th minute after a determined run from Cam Anderson. He beat his marker and cut the ball back from the byline to Beckham Wheeler-Greenall whose first shot was well saved by Angus Dempster, but he was ready to tap in the rebound.
The game started to open and Michael Hogan of Coastal was unmarked in the box. His shot hit the crossbar two minutes later.
Along with Anderson, Caleb Williams and Harrison McLean were front and center for most of the home side’s play, while Hogan was central for most of Spirit’s play.
Spirit almost equalized in the 35th minute when Christian Firth tapped Jake Hodder’s header against the woodwork.
Anderson switched sides and in the 44th minute he cut in from the left channel and unleashed a shot that Dempster did extremely well to parry with a flying save.
Green Island doubled their lead in the 52nd minute as Weston Bell ran down the left wing, kept his marker at bay and fired his shot over Dempster into the far corner of the net.
Coastal narrowed the deficit when the ball fell to Kenshin Hayashi after poor clearance and he shot the ball into the net.
The setback was only temporary as in the 60th minute Anderson attacked down the right wing and fired his low shot over Dempster, scoring the goal that deserved his performance.
The home side took the lead with 20 minutes to go when Dempster dropped the ball, Anderson took the ball back and drove to the byline and found Harrison McLean, who made no mistake.
Hogan, who played a standout game for Coastal, scored in the 77th minute with a strong header to the far post. Coastal was denied another goal a minute later when Firth made an instinctive save to refuse Cooper Goldsmith.
Coastal has made a habit of scoring late goals this season and with four minutes to go, Firth had to react quickly to collect a loose ball in the penalty area. Centre-back Cam Brewitt then did well to head away a goal-bound effort.
In stoppage time, Coastal scored from a corner when Nicholas Smith headed home. But time ran out and the island took a 4-3 win and a precious three points.
■ Dunedin City Royals took revenge on Ferrymead with a well deserved 3-1 win in Christchurch.
Kaleb DeGroot-Green opened the scoring in the 29th minute and two goals on either side of half time, the first for Connor Neill and then En Watanabe in the 47th minute, gave the points.
Ferrymead scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute via Michael White.
■ Mosgiel was undone by three Nomads goals in the first half in Christchurch.
Jack Walecki got the final hand after 11 minutes for an unfortunate own goal. Guy Reeves and Kenny Willocks scored the other Nomads goals.
Selwyn remains at the bottom of the rankings after a 3-1 defeat to Cashmere Tech.
■ In the first round of the four-team South Island Women’s Championship, the Dunedin City Royals defeated Roslyn-Wakari 2-1.
The Royals got off to a dream start when Chelsea Whittaker opened the scoring in the third minute with a blast from just inside the penalty area.
But that only took care of Roslyn-Wakari, who equalized just six minutes later when Zara Prattley dove on a loose ball and made no mistake in front of goal.
The Royals created more chances but it remained 1-1 at halftime.
Hannah Mackay-Wright came out and scored her seventh goal of the season to seal the win for the Royals, who receive Cashmere Technical in the second round, while Roslyn plays Coastal Spirit.
■ In the ODT Southern premiership, Dunedin City Royals came from behind to beat Northern 4-1 at Forrester Park.
Hayden Teixeira gave the home team the lead. Just before half time, however, Max Davidson equalized.
The game turned early in the second half when Northern goalkeeper Liam Little was sent off. The Royals then scored three goals in the space of seven minutes to ensure they stayed at the top of the table.
Roslyn Wakari lost ground to the Royals when they succumbed to a surprise 1-0 loss to Green Island. Blake Fairbairn scored the winning goal after four minutes.
University defeated Northern Hearts 6-0.
— Neville Watson