Coach Jason King said it was a sombre drive for the players back to Palmerston North for the aftermatch function.
They had perhaps been overconfident after such a strong first round of games to that point.
"Basically, watching the game, it was like watching men against boys," King said.
"We weren't up to the task on the day.
"We tried to play to them, and it didn't come off for us.
"It was a tough and frustrating game to watch, some of the players we gave opportunity to didn't quite stand up to the test."
Athletic fell to clear third on the table behind Havelock North and New Plymouth Rangers, and will have to pull themselves off the floor for the big trip this weekend to face frontrunners Havelock North - a match they had possibly looked past Marist for.
"Might sit the boys down and have an honesty session," said King.
There was better news earlier in the afternoon as King was able to watch his GVCA Wanganui Athletic Reserves in person as they came back with a late penalty to snatch a 2-all draw with Breakers RSM Rovers at Skogland Park in the Horizons Premiership.
However, the circumstances were not glorious, as three Rovers players were shown red cards in a scrappy match - two for a second yellow and one a straight red.
King could not comment too much on Rovers' on-field incidents, with the final penalty being contentious.
"If they had 11 players on the pitch, they would have been able to see it out.
"They were still looking like a solid team."
Nonetheless, his reserves side played the hand they were dealt and King was proud they stepped up to earn a point, several of them looking to make a mark with the coach watching.
Daniel Timmins got a double, back-heeling in the first that crept over the line to narrow Rovers' lead to 2-1, then converting a late penalty chance.
With a couple of players out with illness, club veteran Tim Hayes stepped in and his experience proved vital to guide them on the pitch.
