SOCCER - North Force set for battle

North Force have spent the week planning to ambush league leaders East Coast Bays when they visit Tikipunga Park tomorrow.
North Force aren't greedy - all they want is a point - with a draw good enough to guarantee them third place in the US1 premier league competition behind ECB and Waitakere City.
The battle is looming like a David versus Goliath epic with ECB yet to suffer a speed bump in their perfect season. They have won all of their 15 matches in the league to date and won't be expecting things to change when they visit Whangarei this weekend.
North Force coach Dean Wheatley said his team had an underdog's chance of wrecking the visiting team's perfect record but it would not be easy.
"We're looking forward to having a real go at them, we've got home advantage and we know how they play so, hopefully, we can knock them off balance a bit," he said.
The strategy is fairly simple. The home side will have to work hard to wear down the visitor's passing game and that means harrying the ball carrier and marking players off the ball.
"It's going to be difficult but we'll give it a go ... we'll be a bit more defensive than usual and we'll be looking to man-mark one of their players who sits behind the striker and directs play up front," he said.
The side is at full-strength with midfielder Steve Crowley the only doubtful starter for the weekend.
North Force were buoyed by the 1-1 midweek draw between Hibiscus Coast and their rivals for third place, Glenfield Rovers. The result means that Glenfield must win their remaining three matches to overhaul North Force but a point to North Force against ECB or Waitakere next weekend will be enough to see the Whangarei club secure third and host a playoff match the following weekend.
In Northland Premier League matches, Tikipunga host FC Whangarei at 12.30pm, Kaikohe host Madhatters and Kamo host Onerahi at 2.45pm.
The North Force match kicks off at 3.15pm.