It was a tough day on the road for Wānaka FC, as a clinical second-half display from Nelson Suburbs handed the visitors a harsh 6-0 defeat.
Despite a highly competitive opening 45 minutes, a series of costly errors after the break allowed the hosts to run away with the match.
Wānaka started the match looking uncharacteristically sloppy, a sluggish opening that immediately put Nelson Suburbs on the front foot.
The visitors attempted to build possession and play through the lines, but they struggled to find fluency as the ball simply refused to stick higher up the pitch.
To their credit, Wānaka adjusted quickly.
They became defensively organised and compact, successfully frustrating the Nelson attack and restricting clear-cut chances.
It took a moment of set-piece quality to break the deadlock, with Nelson converting a well-taken free kick to open the scoring.
Wānaka did not put their heads down and created two excellent opportunities to equalise before the break.
Dominic Plimmer unleashed a powerful, well-taken shot that tested the keeper, while a dangerous Wānaka free kick looked destined for the net before being brilliantly parried away by the Nelson shot-stopper, keeping the halftime score at 1-0.
Any tactical adjustments planned by Wānaka for the second half were undone almost immediately after the restart.
A simple giveaway in midfield gifted possession to Nelson, allowing their striker to pounce and scramble the ball into the net.
It was a true dagger to Wānaka's second-half intentions.
Six minutes later, the game was effectively put to bed.
Nelson delivered a perfectly weighted ball to the second post, which was clinically finished to make it 3-0.
With the momentum firmly in Nelson's favour and Wānaka forced to chase the game, the hosts capitalised on the open space.
Another three goals flew into the net late in the match to bring the final scoreline to a bruising 6-0.
While the second-half collapse will be a tough pill to swallow, Wānaka FC finally return to familiar territory next weekend.
They are back at home against Northern FC, where they will undoubtedly have a massive point to prove in front of their home crowd.