Force close but Suburbs prevail

So close - but yet so far. North Force women experienced mixed emotions after their 2-1 loss to a highly rated Eastern Suburbs side who are third on the Northern Premier Women's Football League.
North Force are still searching for their first victory in the league they joined this year, although they have continued to improve in every match.
Coach Bruce Plunkett said that while he was pleased the girls got so close to Eastern Suburbs - thanks to the boot of Katie Rood - he and the team were gutted they did not get anything from it.
"It was an especially good effort, seeing as they haven't played in six weeks," he said.
Meanwhile, at Parrs Park in West Auckland, Steve Schimmel and Scott Burgess both found the back of the net twice, while Mark Ruddel and Jason Teal shot one a piece for the North Force men, who defeated cellar dwellers Oratia 6-1 on Saturday.
North Force Reserve's 2-1 victory against the Oratia Reserves topped off a solid weekend.
Only one Northland men's premier competition game was contested on Saturday due to rain-affected grounds.
Kamo and Tikipunga men travelled to the neutral Bream Bay football grounds for their match, where Kamo's Mason Steel put away the only goal of the matchfor the win.
Yesterday, Kamo women were thumped 5-1 by FC Whangarei at Kamo  in their Northland Women's premier championship league match, while at Kerikeri the hosts defeated Onerahi women 3-0 and Tikipunga pipped Kerikeri High School 3-2.