If Levin AFC had gotten a heads up about the Big Orange Wanganui City 1sts team coming to Donnelly Park on Saturday, then it was little more helpful than saying an approaching hurricane will damage your house.
The Horizons Premiership leaders put away six goals in the second half to run away with the match 7-0 against their third-placed opposition.
By the end, the players were covered in mud as the weather had packed in, with coach Kelvin Francis getting his side to run straight into the showers still wearing their full kit so he wouldn't have so much dirt to try and scrub off later that evening.
"Man, did it rain, the pitch was pretty wet," Francis said.
"I likened it to running through the sand dunes in that second half."
Max Davidson scored the first of his double early in the piece from a good volley, but City would struggle to extend their lead for the rest of the first half.
"[Levin] knew we were going to come with a good passing game and they wanted to press us high," said Francis.
"We used that against them, to get in behind. The boys played really well."
Halftime discussion revolved around getting back to basics and hitting the feet with their passes, and the coach was delighted to see his side go back out and be pitch-perfect despite the weather.
Davidson got his second, while Cameron Hussey scored after taking over the left side for the departed Jordan Joblin-Hall.
Jake Lockett came on with 15 minutes to go for the hard working Anthony Bell, and scored a goal while setting up another.
Carl Bond, Simon Peterson and Eli Fleming added their names to the sheet, while Latham Berry had his chance but put a penalty attempt over the cross bar.
The MVP award was giving to Bond, who had covered the right back position for the injured Josh Jonas, with the team joking his spot is the place to be as Davidson was MVP at right back the previous weekend.
Their seventh straight win keeps City a full three points clear of Hokowhitu FC Rangers with one game left in the first round.
"We've stamped a bit of authority on it, to be fair," said Francis.
"We've still got to be wary, we don't want to slip up before we get to that second round game with Hokowhitu."
Sixth placed Feilding United 1sts could still present a tough challenge after they only went down 1-0 to Hokowhitu at the weekend, while the following weekend is fifth-placed Breakers RSM Rovers, who appear to be running themselves back into some form after beating Marist Development 5-4 despite having three players on stand down from red cards in their draw with GVCA Wanganui Athletic Reserves
The Athletics Reserves finished just short of making it two draws in a row in their Wembley Park game with Palmerston North Boys High 1st XI.
Despite having some experienced hands, Athletic were trailing 4-1 after visitor goals from Luke Minshull (2), Jett Macgregor-Dunn and Josh Davenport.
However, they rallied to close the gap to 4-3 before time ran out, as Christian Hare had a memorable match with two goals and a yellow card, while Jordan Candish also scored.
Athletic will travel to meet Massey Celtic this coming Saturday.