Smiles and cheers greeted North Force players at full time in Kamo as the Northland side claimed its first win in 24 games.
A 3-2 win is what the scoreboard showed, but to football fans in the region it signalled the return of the representative team.
With a new coach, new players, and a new attitude, North Force absorbed nearly 40 minutes of attacking pressure from Papakura during Saturday's second half, much to the delight of coach Russell Baddeley.
With Papakura having won 8-1 last weekend, Baddeley knew his side would need to man up if they were to keep the visitors from spoiling the party - especially after being reduced to 10 men when Cody Lacour was red-carded.
"I looked at their front two and the quality and pace and I thought 'I could see how they got eight' [against Lynn Avon]. I was trying to reorganize our defence so we tighten down and closed their space," Baddeley commented after the game.