SOCCER - Coach keen on sweet revenge

If North Force can concentrate for the entire match at Mangere Centre Park tomorrow then coach Paul Cross can't see any reason why they can't add another three points to their season total.
The team are out to prove that their first-round loss to Mangere, at the time ending a six match unbeaten streak, was a mere aberration in form.
"We're out to make amends this week, obviously we were pretty disappointed with our performance against them last time ... and I guess we'll take an element of surprise into the match because they'll be expecting us play that badly again.
"We were pretty disjointed last time around and, needless to say, if we go out and perform like we did for 70 minutes last week, we're confident we can pick up the three points - it's just a matter of eradicating those lapses of concentration that have cost us so dearly," Cross said.
Central defender Aaron Taylor will play his last game of the season for the side, ahead of an overseas trip, but Cross said they have been introducing members from the reserve side into the mix recently and they will be pressed into service for the remaining three weeks of competition.
While promotion is becoming increasingly unlikely for the team, Cross maintains they won't be giving up the ghost just yet.
"You never know how things are going to turn out but we'd definitely be disappointed if we didn't finish the competition in the top four," he said.
FC Whangarei have the chance to make the semifinal of the Federation Cup when they take on Takapuna Reserves at Morningside Park tomorrow at 2pm.
The Takapuna side lead the United Soccer One division one table with 14 wins and two draws from 18 games this year and Whangarei coach Peter Brown is expecting a tough tussle with the visitors.
"Hopefully they might take us a little bit lightly and rest a few of their players but we're certainly going to go out and do our best for the club - hopefully we can continue our recent good form and keep a roll on."
He said the club would field much the same side that flattened Kerikeri 6-0 last week in the Northland Premier Division, and earned a valuable 1-1 away draw with fellow title contenders Kaikohe, the week before.
Whangarei's scheduled premier division match against Tikipunga will have to be played at a later date but three matches will go ahead in the division tomorrow.
Kaikohe host Madhatters, needing a win to keep in touch with Whangarei, while Onerahi host Central Brown and Kerikeri will have a tough task to bounce back from last week's result against third-placed Kamo.
North Force women's team also have a tough draw in their Federation Cup match in Auckland on Sunday. They still lead the Federation One league and have to play second-placed Glenfield Rovers in the knockout match.
The Northland Women's Premier League will feature a vital top-of-the-table clash between league leaders Horahora and second-placed Kamo White. Kamo trail Horahora by three points but have a game in hand, meaning the match might prove the turning point for the season competition for both teams.