Football: North needs miracle

North Force Captain Scott Burgess

North Force's hopes of a late-season promotion push are in tatters after going down 4-1 to Oratia United.

With North Force in dire need of a win, Oratia's strong second half on Saturday was a painful stab in the heart for the Northland side's players, coaches and supporters.

"It was the quietest bus trip I've been on," North Force coach Russell Baddeley said of the gloomy trip home from Auckland.

"That was our chance really I think."

Scott Burgess secured a goal for North Force in the second half after his side were 1-nil down at halftime.

However, Oratia piled on the points to shut the visitors out of the game and the season.

"It's hurting pretty bad.

"Myself, the other coaches, the players are very disappointed," Baddeley said.

"We set our sights on getting promotion so, to be honest, anything less than that's a big failure as far as we're concerned."

Now facing a huge challenge if they are to sneak into a top-two promotional position, North Force need to win their remaining games comfortably and cross their fingers that Oratia's form takes a dive through the remaining rounds.

"We've got to try to win the last three games and hope for a miracle," Baddeley said.

"I guess we need to take a look at a lot of the positives but not at the moment.

"At the moment everybody's just gutted."

Results:

NRFL Division Two:

Oratia United 4 North Force 1

North Force Reserves 4 Oratia United Reserves 1

AFF/NFF Women's Conference:

North Force 3 Onehunga 0

Northland Premier Division:

Kerikeri 6 FC Whangarei 0

Onerahi 3 Central Brown 0

Northland Women's Premier Division:

Kerikeri High School 12 Northern Wairoa 1