Football: Force sights on promotion

DISCIPLINE: North Force striker Steve Schimmel will be looking at keeping the ball and opposition under control in Kamo tomorrow.PHOTO/RON BURGIN

With confidence high, and the comforts of home, North Force are hoping to pick up another win in Kamo at 3pm tomorrow, this time against Onehunga Mangere.

After eight games, the Northland representative side have five wins under their belt and plan to continue their fine run this season - after not picking up a win last year and dropping down a division this season.

North Force coach Russell Baddeley believes his side are growing in confidence but so is their opposition.

"We're right where we want to be. If you looked back to the start it's what we had expected, bit of a slow start and still getting better week to week," he said of his side, who are coming off a 4-0 away win over Claudelands last Saturday.

"The boys can definitely still get better from here and, if we can do that into the second round, we're in with a chance [to win or be promoted back into the first division].

"The boys are really looking forward to playing this home game."

An extra motivating factor for North Force is they are just three points off the top of the table - plus Onehunga has a two win, two draw and four loss record - and would love to close that gap in front of a home crowd.

Helping to draw a crowd is an initiative that sees North Force playing a light game with the club teams in Northland, re-engaging with the community they represent.

While winning is a high priority for Baddeley, he knows they will need to give their opposition respect or they could get stung. "Potentially it could be close but, if we get some early goals and the guys get into the same mood as last weekend, [a big win] could happen this weekend.

"It could have happened last weekend, 4-0 doesn't really reflect the game, and we're looking at doing the same this weekend.

"If we can get goals that would be good because we want to get that goal difference up. With it so tight, goal difference could be a factor at the end."

One struggle Baddeley has had in recent weeks is the growing number of injuries, which has meant several younger players have been blooded.

"They are improving every training and every game. Last Saturday against Claudelands we had six young guys and they played okay. They are learning the physicality of playing in this league. [I haven't bloodied the young players] as much as I would have liked but a lot of the games have been so tight that I haven't been able to get them on."

In weeks to come though, Baddeley said, the youngsters would be thrown in at the deep end as three senior players would be away overseas.

Baddeley invited the Northland public to get along and support them tomorrow.

"I know the boys really want to try and turn on a top performance in front of our home crowd and I am sure you will see another open, attacking game."