It did not shock Kris Ridley that his Southern United team were not quite as fluid as their opposition last weekend.
You just have to crunch the numbers.
Wellington United had been together for six months and won all 18 of their games in the Central League. Southern United had been together for four weeks and played precisely one game together.
Small wonder Wellington dominated the National League game fixture, even if it ended in a 1-1 draw after a series of cracking saves from Southern goalkeeper Lauren Paterson.
"I think it's quite fair to say that football is funny sometimes," Ridley said.
"It was definitely not pretty, but I don't think you'll find a more tenacious team than us in the competition.
"Wellington were very good going forward. We found them really hard to try and keep down.
"Lauren saved us there, but we just couldn't get out of second gear. Ball retention is quite important in football, and we just kept giving it away, and when you give it away, you're then under the pump and on the back foot."
The reality of the National League is that the club-based teams head into it in a match-hardened state after playing through the winter, while regional teams must cobble together a side from several different teams.
Ridley knows the deal well by now.
"We’re not going to be as fluid as those clubs, but I can't fault the girls' effort or their attitude.
"They were amazing in Wellington. We shouldn't have won the game, and we shouldn't have got a point, but we did."
Only more games together can help Southern build cohesion and combinations.
"Last year, we were a little bit off the ball when it came to gelling, but we only lost some games by a goal, and every goal was sort of unlucky or our mistake rather than the other teams getting on top of us.
"I'm expecting and hoping that in the next few weeks we start hitting our straps."
Southern are still joint top of the table with four points from the Wellington draw and the opening-round win over Phoenix Reserves.
They are at home tomorrow to play West Coast Rangers, another club side, who had 21 games in their winter league.
"They've got a good coach that's come in this year, after being assistant last year, Andy Clay — he demands a lot out of the girls.
"They're going to be tough. They played well here last year and beat us 3-1.
"Three points would be massive. If we can get three points against them, it's huge because we've had the Kate Sheppard Cup finalists first, the Wellington champions, and now the Auckland champions, all in a row.
"So, if we can get seven points out of that, that's more than acceptable."
National League
Logan Park, tomorrow, 3pm
