GEORGE HEAGNEY - © Fairfax NZ News

YoungHeart Manawatu appear to be out of their depth in the national league after another hiding, by Canterbury United in Christchurch yesterday.

It was a bridge too far for Manawatu, as they faced slicker opponents.

YoungHeart Manawatu were outclassed 5-0 by national league frontrunners Auckland City in Auckland yesterday, but coach Stu Jacobs believes his side still has the ability to win.

YoungHeart Manawatu have reversed their fortunes after their poor start to the national league by drawing 2-all with Hawke's Bay United in Napier yesterday.

YoungHeart Manawatu captain Cory Chettleburgh pointed to two big mistakes at the start of the game as proving costly in their 4-0 loss to Canterbury United at Memorial Park yesterday.

FOOTBALL - TONY COFFIN - © Fairfax NZ News

New Zealand's most capped national league player Adam Cowan said he had no option but to leave YoungHeart Manawatu because of a lack of support.

There will be no Manawatu team in the Central League next season after Red Sox-Manawatu proved no match for Wellington United on Saturday, losing 4-1 in Wellington.

A disappointing loss coupled with a late ground change proved tough for coach Aaron Clegg at playoff time.

Red Sox-Manawatu coach Aaron Clegg is confident the lessons learnt from Saturday's Chinese Cup loss to Marist will help his side in the Central League playoffs, which begin tomorrow.

The Manawatu Cyclones' have their last chance to win a game in the women's National Provincial Championship when they play the Hawke's Bay Tuis at Arena Manawatu tomorrow.

The YoungHeart Manawatu team and franchise are in danger of "financial meltdown" unless money can be found to pay their national league entry fee.

Adam Cowan is determined his second shot at the Chatham Cup final will not end in the same misery as his first six years ago.

The Chinese Cup match for Manawatu football supremacy this weekend is hardly the most important game for the two teams involved.

Palmerston North's Memorial Park is likely to be the Chatham Cup final venue and first-timers Wairarapa United couldn't be happier.

Marist's disappointing Central League season finished on a low note, losing 5-1 to Hastings' Maycenvale just a week out from their derby against Red Sox-Manawatu.

In a shock result, the Massey University women's team were beaten 7-1 by Waterside-Karori in the Wellington Premiership final.

Palmerston North Marist's five-year tenure in the Central League ended yesterday.

Palmerston North could be in the running for a slice of the under-20 Football World Cup tournament in 2015.

Red Sox-Manawatu's victory ensures they will wrap up this year's premiership and have the chance to playoff for a spot in next season's Central League.

Cory Chettleburgh has his sights set on linking up with a new club following his shock omission from the Junior All Whites ahead of this month's Fifa Under-20 World Cup.