Football: Whanganui look ahead after Massey run riot

Football Whanganui's Dana McClelland looks to clear under the challenge of Massey University's Kayley Linden in Sunday's GR Engineering Women's Federation League match. Photo / Bevan Conley

Football Whanganui will target their first points of the season when they take on fellow GR Engineering Federation League strugglers Taradale this weekend.

To do that Whanganui will have to pick themselves up after going down 8-1 to Massey University at Wembley Park on Sunday to make it five losses from as many games this season.

"We've got a bit of a lesson really," coach Matthew Calvert said.

"They're a good team and they showed a lot of their quality. They've got two or three of the standouts in the league."

Whanganui conceded early but equalised with the league leaders shortly after through Rose Davidson.

It was just the team's second goal of the season and Calvert was impressed with his side's reaction to conceding early.

Davidson put pressure on Massey keeper Aoife Gallagher-Forbes who she beat to snatch the ball and score.

But that was as good as it got for Whanganui.

Rose Davidson scored Football Whanganui's only goal in an 8-1 loss to Massey. Photo/ Bevan Conley

"We gave it a good go, got the ball down and we were playing okay. But then we just gave away poor goals," Calvert said.

Massey led 4-1 at the break and went on to score four more in the second half.

"There's just a lack of confidence at the moment and that's something I've got to do - get the confidence back in the girls.

"We've just got to stand up and be counted a bit more when the going gets tough."

Whanganui remain at the bottom on the table but will have a good chance at points when they travel to Taradale on Sunday to take on the second to bottom team.

Taradale's only win was a 2-1 victory when the two sides met at Wembley Park in April and Calvert was hopeful Whanganui could reverse the result.

Football Whanganui's Rebekah Ngapeka on the ball. Photo/ Bevan Conley

"They didn't really show much to fear," he said.

"If we can go there with a good attitude and the right mindset, if we can start games better, it will give us a better foothold.

"They're good players and I'm really confident that we are going to go to Taradale and get a result because we are working hard to that result.

"We've just got to pick ourselves up and go again."

In the round's other match Moturoa AFC drew 2-2 with Taradale in New Plymouth.