Force feel hard done by in defeat

The spectre of relegation from United Soccer One's premier ranks reared up on Saturday when North Force were defeated by tenth-placed Hibiscus Coast.
 Just a week after their worst-ever defeat in the premier division - a 6-0 thumping at home by Waitakere City - a late goal sunk the visitors to Stanmore Bay 2-1.
To make it worse the home side played most of the second spell with 10 men after one of their strikers was sent off for diving in the penalty area - his second booking of the match.
North Force were off colour in the first spell and were under constant threat along the flanks and it was no surprise when the home side went ahead.
A freekick from just outside the area flew into the top corner of the net giving goalkeeper Leon Taylor no chance.
It might have been worse for the visitors at the break but for the efforts of Scott Burgess, who's work rate at centreback was responsible for heading off a number of promising attacks.
After Hibiscus Coast was reduced to 10 men, North Force began to settle into the game and when striker Steve Schimmel equalised five minutes later, a win looked on the cards.
Coach Dean Wheatley said his side began to dominate after Schimmel scored and were looking as though they would win until disaster struck.
The home side scored a goal which seemed to many to be offside.
"The referee thought it was, but the lineman didn't and so they awarded Hibiscus Coast the goal," Wheatley said.
The goal forced the visitors to change formation and they pushed Burgess forward creating more chances but it just wasn't their day.
"We had a lot of chances which we missed, again," Wheatley said
"However, we played well - the new guys all acquitted themselves well, so that was a plus."
Jason Teal in the midfield was a stand out, as was Burgess at the back. Bruce Plunkett was back from suspension but was slightly below par after recovering from a bout of the flu.
North Force now sit in eighth place in the division, just two points above Hibiscus Coast and North Shore.
Oratia is last and seem certain to be automatically relegated. The tenth placed team at the end of the season will play a promotion-relegation match against the winning division one team.
Wheatley said there is no need for panic. "We just need to keep putting in decent performances and trying to pick up results," he said.