North Force's defensive frailties were again exposed in their 3-2 defeat by Takapuna at Kamo Sports Park.
The side conceded a goal two minutes into the first spell and a second two minutes into the second spell yesterday, both down to lapses of concentration and failing to mark in the penalty
area. The second goal nullified the good work the side had done to get back in the game to lead 2-1 at the break.
A header by Aaron Taylor was deflected into the Takapuna goal midway through the first spell for the equaliser, while the second goal on the stroke of half-time by Daniel Ridgley, followed good lead-up work by Scott Burgess and Charlton Lacour.
The third and final Takapuna goal was another example of a goal that should never have happened. Striker Matt Wallace travelled 20m into the box from the Force's right flank, before unleashing a left foot shot that stand-in keeper Willy Morunga could only get a hand on.
The home side's assistant coach Paul Cross watched the game with mounting frustration.
"The game was pretty even, both sides had periods of dominance but silly defensive lapses cost us - you can't keep conceding three goals every week and expect to win games. At the end of the day it comes down to the individual and they've got to get themselves up mentally, to me today there were three or four guys out there cruising and that's too many, and at this level you're going to get punished."
With 15 minutes to play and only trailing by a single goal, too many of the North Force team seemed resigned to losing the match - a shame for the team's supporters after they'd drawn their largest crowd of the season. Around 200 North Force fans watched the game in brilliant sunshine on the bank at Kamo but their team couldn't match their efforts in the first spell.
In the Northland Men's Premier League Knockout Cup matches on Saturday, FC Whangarei knocked out league leaders Kamo 3-1 with a great display of passing football overwhelming the Kamo team.
Kerikeri slammed Onerahi 7-1 to display their intentions in the competition, while Tikipunga remain alive in the competition with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bream Bay Flyers.
