Their injury toll and propensity for slow starts came back to haunt Tech College Old Boys in their Manawatu League semifinal with top team Massey on Saturday afternoon.
TCOB conceded a goal from a well-taken penalty corner in the first six minutes, before dragging the favourites into another characteristic arm wrestle, ultimately losing 2-0 in Palmerston North.
The Wanganui club were able to get about three good chances in the circle to score but could not capitalise, one of those due to a great save by the Massey keeper.
"Our guys, the only thing we were short of was a reserves bench," said coach Langley Atkinson.
"We had one when you really need three to four in a final."
While disappointed with the result, Atkinson said Massey remain in top form and his squad had done their best given how light they were from losing several players to injury in the latter half of the season.
"You play with the hand you're dealt.
"You couldn't ask for a much better performance."
Able to hold their heads up are Josh McDonnell, Luke Kirk and Callum Wilbur, who all had good games on the Manawatu turf.
It is a familiar story for TCOB to have to fight their way to fourth, but being just a step behind the top teams meaning they could not secure third spot to get a potentially easier semifinal opponent to have a real shot at making the grand final.
Thoughts now turn to facing College in the playoff for third/fourth this Saturday in Palmerston North, as College went down narrowly to High School Hockey Club 3-2.
College have narrowly had the wood on TCOB this year, winning their May 4 game in Wanganui 2-1, then the return game at home 4-3 on June 29.
Atkinson will spend the week looking to stamp out any lethargy in the team so they finish 2013 on a high.
"Some of the guys have said, 'do we need to play that?' I've said 'yes'.
"For me, personally, a third sounds better than fourth."
The TCOB women have no issue getting up for their third/fourth playoff against College, in fact they were back on the training turf on Sunday afternoon with Jeff Currie just 24 hours after their 7-0 hammering by HSHC women in Palmerston North.
"As we knew, we were going to be in for a tough battle," said manager Ian Glenny.
HSHC had already taken the game away at 5-0 by halftime, showing great structure and putting players into gaps with no-look passes.
"It almost made it seem like they had an extra player on the field, and it left us wanting at times," Glenny said.
The team pulled it back in the second half and had a handful of chances to score but HSHC, who have lost only once in 12 games this year, were well on their way to the final.
Glenny said the team remained excited about playing College, who are more on their level, and gaining third spot in a debut year where the goal was only to avoid finishing in the bottom two.
"We remain positive, if we play to our prospective ability. But if we don't we'll get cut in half again."
College have had the wood on 'Techno' in their previous encounters, winning both 3-0.
Techno also played a practice game against the Collegiate First XI last night as part of their preparations.