The quick break got them in behind the defenders and forced Reds keeper Nick Hayward into a save.
Unfortunately for Hayward, his efforts were not enough and Boys High got one back, boosting their morale.
But it was Athletic who wrestled control back of the game when Smith again got on the scoresheet.
Timing his run perfectly, Smith latched on to the end of an Anthony Bell cross, sending the teams into the break at 3-1.
The halftime chat was clear and simple - keep the pressure on and don't let them back into the game - a message that would have been ringing in their ears after the last outing saw Boys High come back from being two goals down to level the match at halftime.
However this time the message and the lesson were enough to get the Reds all the way to the final whistle.
With goals to Anthony Bell, Josh Parker, and Smith rounding out a hat-trick for the day, the result was a resounding 6-1 win.
"It was a good result after nearly three weeks off the pitch," commented Athletic's player-coach Josh Smith.
He was happy with the team's performance, having acknowledged the extended break played on his mind, but was pleased there were no ill effects come game time.
Athletic now prepare for another home match this weekend when they host Havelock North.
While Athletic bolted out of the gates to control their fixture, it took Wanganui City until the second half to really find their best form and ultimately walk away clear victors over the Red Sox Manawatu Rovers.
It took City a long time to get into the match on Saturday, with missed passes, and poor execution plaguing much of their first half.
City coach Kelvin Francis was clearly frustrated on the sideline with the effort in the opening stanza and gave a clear message at the break, asking his players to settle into the match and get back to the style of play that they knew.
It all came together in the second half, with City taking control of the match and driving their superior possession home.
A hat-trick of goals to Chris Annabell and a brace to Jamie Lambe ensured the game was well out of reach for Red Sox.
Even goalkeeper Jason Fergusson got in on the action, calmly converting his opportunity for glory, and earned himself a mark on the goal stats, a feat every keeper would love to boast.
City managed to keep any prospective attacks from blooming, with Dylan Howells again being a rock in the middle of the defence and Adrian Ngaau supporting him in a pairing that has only seen three goals slip past them in 14 games.
City maintain their nine-point lead at the top of the Western Premiership table and look on track to easily take out the league this season.
City hit the road to Palmerston North this weekend to take on second-placed Hokowhitu Rangers.
