KEY POINTS:
Taupo AFC pulled off the biggest upset in the second round of the Chatham Cup's knockout competition when beating Tauranga City United 5-3 yesterday.
Taupo stunned a Tauranga City side two divisions above them but neither that, nor Te Puke's 5-4 win over Rotorua United could compete with a nine-goal thriller between Fencibles and Mount Albert Grammar.
Zane Christensen's sixth-minute penalty was saved as an early indication of the excitement to follow and after just 15 minutes Fencibles had a 2-1 lead with Norm Archery and Christensen both responding to Mark Withers' opener within 90 seconds.
Sean Gillham put Fencibles further ahead in the 22nd minute but in another burst of scoring Zane Sole and Jonathan Raj had the schoolboys level.
Second goals to Christensen and Raj sent the sides into halftime at 4-4, but the scoring dried up until Zane Sole grabbed the winner for Mount Albert seven minutes from fulltime.
The drama didn't finish there, with Fencibles missing a late chance to send the game into extra time. The drama may not have ended, with Fencibles planning to protest Mount Albert fielding a player sent off in the schoolboy side's previous match.
Elsewhere, titleholders Central United eased into their defence with a 9-2 romp over Oratia United, while Glenfield Rovers and East Coast Bays also enjoyed lopsided wins in the top half of the North Island.
In the South Island, the progress of first round giantkillers Cashmere was halted by a 2-3 loss to fellow Christchurch side Avon, while the cup dreams of Timaru's Northern Hearts and Invercargill's Old Boys were crushed by 0-8 defeats to Dunedin Technical and Caversham last Saturday.
Nelson Suburbs claimed another previous winners' scalp with a 3-0 win over Woolston Technical to add to a first round one win over Nelson United, while Dunedin's Northern needed a penalty shootout to get past Otago University after a goalless stalemate.
In Wellington, Petone handed Stop Out a 7-0 thrashing, while three-time winners Miramar had an easier-than-expected victory by the same scoreline over four-time champions Waterside-Karori.
The third round draw is released on Wednesday.
- NZPA
