As the 6-0 scoreline would suggest, it was a dominating performance by Wanganui City in their Federation League match over at Feilding's Timoana Park on Saturday.
The hosts had no answer to a City side determined to turn around what have been frustratingly close results of late.
Finally things clicked for the visitors, albeit aided by Feilding being reduced to 10 men. But before that City had already slotted in two goals from Troy Smith and Anthony Bell to take a clear advantage. Manager Glenn Graham was pleased it was his side, for a change, who had their opponents at "sixes and sevens", chasing shadows and keeping composed even when City had a penalty awarded against them. But lady luck, for a change from recent fortunes, was shining on the travellers.
Stand-in goalkeeper Jack Judd-Nuttall saved the ensuing spot kick and then City continued on a scoring spree to emphasise their dominance.
Zane Robinson, James Satherley and Bell again scored, before youngster Jamie Lambe finished off proceedings with a fine diving header.
It made for a happy ride home and put daylight between the Wanganui side and any dreaded thought of picking up the wooden spoon title.
The middle of the table is a tight affair and with results already going to-and-fro in the early part of round two.
A handful of teams, including City, can at any stage grab a solid foothold in the top four.
There was no joy, however, for the two Wanganui-based Western Premiership sides, who were beaten at home on Saturday.
City Reserves went down to Levin AFC 4-2, while Athletic's firsts were beaten 4-0 by Palmerston North Boy's High School.
City were architects of their own demise of sorts probably guilty of losing possession cheaply to their opposition too many times and in dangerous areas that offered opportunities which Levin happily pounced upon.
By City's own admission, it was probably their untidiest performance all season.
Apart from a well-deserved brace of goals for Latham Berry, who worked hard for his team-mates, there were few highlights for the locals.
They head back to the drawing board, maybe to work on fine-tuning their passing.
Athletic could do little to counter a PNBHS side determined to get their own season back on track and the four-goal shut out for the Reds will have their coaching staff a little bemused and frustrated. Admittedly the visitors bought a good game and were value for their victory in the overall picture.
Athletic would have given themselves half a chance before the game, as the two sides were reasonably well-matched in terms of age and experience, Athletic maybe holding a slight advantage.
With round one drawing to a close for the Western Premiership, they will now have to reassess targets and look to pick up some points on a regular basis.
Re-build or not, excuses cannot be used all season long.
Results
Federation League: Wanganui City FC beat Feilding Utd 6-0.
Western Premiership: Wanganui City Reserves lost to Levin AFC 4-2; Wanganui Athletic 1sts lost to PNBHS 4-0.