Tick for North Force despite late setback

North Force kicked off their season on Saturday with a 4-3 loss to Waiuku at Kamo.

A 94th-minute screamer denied North Force their first points in their opening game, but their coach is still giving them a pass mark.

After being locked 3-all at fulltime in Kamo, North Force let one slip through, allowing Waiuku to take the points.

"In the changing rooms ... no one was even talking," new coach Russell Baddeley said, adding the crowd there was one of the biggest he'd seen in recent times.

"It just felt like we were so close to winning it and got smashed away at the end. The players were absolutely gutted after they'd worked so hard. I was disappointed with all four goals [we let through], as I thought they were soft."

Despite the loss, Baddeley gave his side a pass for their first outing against an Auckland team - after having had pre-season matches with local sides.

With the new season having kicked off on Saturday, North Force - complete with a new squad also - are hoping to turn around a fairly average 2013. And, Baddeley believes they can do it.

"I definitely give them a pass mark. Defensively we've got some work to do but once that's done I think we'll be good.

"I guess it's going to take a game or two to get used to the pace against Auckland sides ... [because] we struggled to get to the pace of the game." North Force had gone 1-nil down half an hour into the game as they took a while to adjust. But once they did they had shown glimpses of hope.

The Northland representative football side equalised through Keegan Baddeley before going 2-1 up thanks to the head of Steve Schimmel.

Baddeley said North Force were looking good until they let through a soft goal that meant they had to work hard to pull it back, again through the boot of Keegan Baddeley to make 3-2. "I think we kind of ran out of gas in the last 20 minutes, and then right at the very end they got clear."

Baddeley said this year's squad had been boosted by the scouting of local club players to strengthen the side. One of those players was goalkeeper Shane Stanners, who Baddeley said had a blinder.

"In goal [Stanners] pulled off a string of saves. To be honest we could have been down 3-4 at halftime but he pulled off a number of good saves.

"Keegan Bradley was all class too. He caused Waiuku trouble all day. Calvin Erick played well as sub and Marcus Crum at left back had a fine game."

North Force has another home game next weekend as they play at Kamo at 2.45pm against Papakura. The following week they too have another home game, against Tauranga.