Mangere Utd give Force fright

A complacent North Force  were given a shake-up by a fast and flighty Mangere United when they clashed at Kamo Sports Park.
While North Force narrowly avoided a draw and won 2-1, it was a long slog to get the result which saw them maintain their top placing on the Northern Region division one table.
Despite their 12th standing heading into round 10, North Force skipper Scott Burgess said Mangere were not a side to be taken lightly after they had drawn with  second-placed Ellerslie  in round nine.
Although North Force had prepared for an unpredictable side, Mangere's quick passing and speed caught the hosts a little off guard.
"They were a lot better than we thought they would be - and a much better side than where they are sitting on the table," Burgess  said.
"We weren't our usual selves this week - we didn't play as well as we normally do but we did enough to win and get the three points."
The game was scoreless for most of the first half, until Burgess  scored to put the hosts in the lead just before the break.
The skipper's  game ended prematurely after he twisted his knee during the second half, and he will know after an assessment today  whether he will be available to play this week.
Sammy Oso made an immediate impact when he came on off the bench midway through the second half, creating several scoring opportunities.
Charlton Lacour finished off one of those opportunities, receiving a great pass from Oso, and sending it past the Mangere keeper.
Mangere  managed to find the back of the goal after one of many fast attacking plays in the match's final minutes.
North Force are away on Saturday for their round 11 clash against Pukekohe, who are propping up the table in 16th place.
Meanwhile, North Force women's US1 Women's Championship match against Hibiscus Coast was postponed until later in the season, as Hibiscus Coast could not play due to a New Zealand Knockout Cup game.
In the US1 Men's Championship FC Whangarei  drew  1-1 with Ranui Swanson. Gareth Webb scored  for FC Whangarei to level with Ranui Swanson who slipped into second place behind Te Atatu and ahead of Warkworth, Oratia United and West Auckland. Waitemata and Norwest United sit in seventh and eighth, respectively, behind FC Whangarei.