Futsal South coach Darren Hart was philosophical about his side's disappointing results in series two of the national league held in Wellington during the weekend.
Futsal South won four of its five games in the opening series but lost ground with just a win and a draw from its five games in the capital.
The team is still well placed to make the semifinals despite its ''up and down'' form, Hart said.
''We had quite a few players out,'' he said.
''Three or four people could not make it in the end with commitments and other bits and pieces.''
Goalkeeper Chris Sannum was unavailable. Sean McIntee pulled out for personal reasons and Ben O'Farrell had commitments with the Southern United youth team.
McIntee and O'Farrell scored 11 goals between them in the last series so the team was down on firepower.
''We worked it out and I think we scored the identical amount of goals as we did last series if you take away those players,'' Hart said.
To make matters worse, Luuk van den Burgh sprained his ankle in the opening game against Mainland Futsal, leaving the team even more shorthanded.
Leading player Michael Sannum picked up two yellow cards during the tournament and was forced to sit out the match against Auckland.
''For that last game we had nine players when the normal match-day squad is 14.
''But at the end of the day we are still fourth.
''We are still very much in the running for the semis. The league is really just about jostling for position in the top four and then you've got the serious games.''
South lost 6-1 to Mainland, 8-6 to Manawatu and 6-3 to Auckland. It drew 4-4 with Hawkes Bay and beat Waikato Bay of Plenty 2-1.
Hart said all of the games were competitive. Even the blowout against Mainland was a closer match than the score indicated.
Futsal South dropped its keeper when it was trailing 3-1 in an effort to pull back the margin but it backfired and Mainland extended its lead.
It put plenty of pressure on Auckland and had its chances against Manawatu. But likewise, it could have easily lost the other two games.
Hart said his side scored two goals in the last 40sec against Waikato Bay of Plenty to steal a win and also scored late in the draw with Hawkes Bay.
Series three gets under way in Auckland in mid-December. The playoffs are also in Auckland and follow straight after series three.
