FOOTBALL - Force gathering speed for visit

NORTH Force is hoping the twisting road that traverses the Brynderwyns doesn't wake a sleeping giant, when former glamour side North Shore United visit Kamo tomorrow.
The attraction of hosting such a famous New Zealand club is not lost on coach Dean Wheatley, who expects North Shore's visit to further boost the number of supporters on the bank at Kamo Rec tomorrow.
"I think the interest caused by the new league this year has been positive and everyone (up here) has been supportive of the changes made, because they just want what's best for Northland," Wheatley said.
The two sides will clash in competition for the first time, thanks to the formation of the United Soccer 1 premiership, which is a big bonus for the Whangarei faithful.
North Shore was formed in 1886, making them the oldest club in the country. They have twice won the national league, have been runners-up three times and have also been the Chatham Cup champions, an incredible six times.
The team finished sixth in Northern League premier division last season, but have been forced to field an inexperienced side in the fledgling United Soccer 1 league, after a number of their first team players turned their back on the new league this season.
In the first two rounds at least, North Shore have struggled. They lost to 2-4 to Birkenhead in round one and 3-4 to Western Oratia United last week.
"They've lost two on the trot, but they've got quite a young side so I'm not taking too much from that. I'm expecting another tough battle for the points this weekend," Wheatley said.
The coach is keen to maintain the side's unbeaten record and hopes there are no further lapses in concentration in defence, after such a lapse cost it a vital goal in the two-all draw against Hibiscus Coast last week.
Given their opposition's defensive record to date, North Force will be expecting to score goals at Kamo and will start the match as slight favourites.
"I think the lads will be up for it because we're playing our first home match at Kamo and they'll want to put on another good show to show they belong in this league," he said.
Wheatley is in that rare, early-season position of having too much choice in selecting his team.
"Somebody is going to be disappointed, but at this stage I don't know who that'll be yet and we might not make that decision until Friday," he said.
With three North Harbour clubs challenging US1's decisions, the start to the season has been overshadowed with the political goings-on, that now seems to be finally over with the club's appeals failing to gain traction last week.
"It's been a funny start to the season for us but it seems to be all settling down now," Wheatley said.
"We've been in the position where we've just had to focus on what we were doing on the field and try and ignore everything else going on, with some success I think."