Southern United dominated from start to finish as it dispatched WaiBOP 3-0 in the national women's league at Logan Park yesterday.
Chances fell as readily as the rain, particularly throughout the second half.
Southern constantly put its opponent under pressure, regularly finding Amy Hislop and Emily Morison in threatening positions.
At times the WaiBOP defence scrambled well.
At others Southern was denied by centimetres.
Had Southern not started so well, that might have become frustrating.
But there was always a buffer, almost right from the kick-off.
Southern opened the scoring within the first minute.
Renee Bacon was on hand to finish after being put into space by Hislop, who ran on to a lovely through ball from Chelsea Whittaker.
The visitors went close with their best chance 10 minutes later, when Olivia Hooper shot just over the cross bar.
From there Southern gained dominance.
Its defensive pressure began to cause problems, Mikayla Gray in particular stealing possession and making several dangerous runs.
But while Southern constantly threatened, it was unable to put anything away.
The pressure eventually told in the 43rd minute and Amy Hislop's determination doubled the lead.
She followed a free kick from Bacon, forcing a fumble from the usually very solid WaiBOP keeper Georgia Candy.
The ball slipped free and Hislop calmly delivered her sixth goal of the season.
She nearly had a second a minute after the break.
Morison delivered a through-ball to leave Hislop one-on-one with Candy, but she was adjudged offside.
It was the first of several chances Southern created, but could not quite put away.
Morison was pulled back for an offside seven minutes later, before Hislop hit the post with a very good strike and then missed a header by inches.
The constant attack left the lead relatively safe, though.
While Southern was not finishing, WaiBOP rarely looked threatening.
Another goal was inevitable and Morison that made the dominance count.
She got on the end of a Shontelle Smith pass to make it 3-0 in the 87th minute.
The win lifted Southern to 16 points and third on the national women's league table.
It is yet to have its second bye though, unlike its two main competitors Northern and Auckland.
Northern jumped to 18 points with a 2-0 win over Capital, while Auckland remains on 15 after a bye this week.
In the other game of the round, Canterbury United beat Central 5-2, moving to 24 points, with a bye to come.
