The departure of their prodigious Central representative players made for a barren bench while facing a team of eager teenagers, as the Wanganui women hung on for a 2-2 draw with Massey B in the only local Manawatu league game on Saturday.
Playing without Rebecca Baker or Jo Bell, both away at the Under 18 representative training camp, while newcomer Ellie Heenan and veteran Jan Dixon were unavailable, Wanganui conceeded the opening goal in the Senior Women's grade match at Gonville Domain.
They replied back-to-back to take a 2-1 led into the halftime break, before getting a bit of bad luck with Massey's equaliser.
"Their goal in the second half was probably a bit unfortunate that it was awarded a goal," said coach Colleen Baylis.
The Massey shot into traffic took a deflection off a Wanganui defender and not one of the attackers, although given the speed involved and the close proximity of players, Baylis said they just had to accept the call.