South lost the fixture 3-1 after trailing 3-0 at halftime. It spend most of the game hard on defence with Mainland dominating possession and territory at Tahuna Park yesterday.
The visitors passed the ball around superbly and perhaps could have won more comfortably.
Belinda van Noorden and Aimee Phillips had a magic connection up front and the back four of Meilaya Moore, Maia Vink, Geena Gross and Laura Merrin cut down South's precious few attacking forays before they could amount to much.
Merrin used her pace to push forward and make a nuisance of herself.
While the final score perhaps flattered his side, South coach David Martin-Chambers said they showed plenty of character.
''The first half we were a bit like rabbits in the headlights,'' he said.
''In the second half they came out and played as they can play and did really well. They kept them scoreless and they scored, so that was good.
''But I think the girls just need more a bit more training. It is hard in Dunedin when you've only got a couple of good teams ...
and it is a big step up from playing league football in Dunedin.
''Technically, most of the girls are good. They've just got to work on fitness and body strength because they tend to get pushed off the ball too much and too easily.''
South finished the season with a record of one win and six losses. The team scored five goals and conceded 24.
South has had to make do without star striker Chelsea Whittaker, who has been sidelined with an injury for the past month.
Mainland started the match with some short, crisp passing. Skilful striker van Noorden knocked a shot wide in the opening exchanges and moments later Gross put in a dangerous cross.
South really struggled to defend the high ball into the box and looked vulnerable at corner time.
The first goal came in the 26min when van Noorden found space and threaded a beautiful pass through to Phillips, who slotted it past Tessa Nicol.
The second came from a curving corner from Merrin. The left back came across from the other side of the field to take the corner and watched in delight as it defeated Nicol's attempts to swat it away.
Mainland added one final goal with Nicol once again struggling to clear a high ball. Emma Proctor was on hand to knock in the deflection.
South had its best period in the match in the last 15min. By then, Mainland had made changes and lost some shape. But that did not diminish the skill involved in South's goal.
The home side made a fast break down the right side of the field. Shontelle Smith crossed in a lovely ball and Sam Muirhead was positioned perfectly to nod it in.
It was the goal of the match. Both Smith and Muirhead had fine games and centreback Annie Gilchrist worked hard on defence. Elise Mamanu-Gray made some nice touches in the middle of the paddock for South.
''You can't take it away from Mainland, they're a good team. But we're building. We got one win and possibly should have had three. We keep moving forward and hopefully we'll do some training in the summer ... and hopefully, next year we can do better.''
