SOCCER: Oso easy in game of 2 halves

A second half hat-trick from Sammy Oso assured North Force of three points in their vital home match against Birkenhead United on Saturday.
North Force emerged from the dressing sheds at half-time trailing 0-1 with a big job to do after they had been comprehensively outplayed by the visitors in the first 45 minutes.
But two quick goals by the locals turned the match on its head and then the controversial dismissal of Birkenhead defender Rob Wadsworth, a little over five minutes later, further threw the visitors into disarray. They never fully recovered and conceded two more goals to give North Force a comfortable 4-1 win to further cement their third place in the league.
North Force coach Dean Wheatley said his side had struggled to concentrate in the first spell.
"We just weren't at the races in the first half. There was a stern half-time team talk and then we came out with a different attitude after that and just destroyed them," he said.
"In the first half we were second to just about everything and in the second half we were first to everything and that was the difference ... all credit to them it was a great fight back."
Wheatley maintained his preference for the central defensive pairing of Aaron Taylor and Alex Luiten, pushing captain Bruce Plunkett into left fullback for the match.
The formation seemed to work well until the Birkenhead midfield started pushing forward, splitting or otherwise avoiding the overworked defence.
It took a goal by Birkenhead's Maurie Wasi to alert North Force to the danger of losing their feet against the speedy visiting halves and they were fortunate not to concede more goals before the break.
Scott Burgess scored his side's opening goal two minutes into the second spell with a rasping 20m shot that an unsighted Birkenhead keeper could only parry into the roof of the net. Two minutes later, Oso was the first to react to an Adam Sharp cross with a deft touch that looped the ball over the luckless keeper.
Kerikeri referee Jeff Kemp then overreacted to a Birkenhead player's swearing by sending him off - a move that detracted from the fiercely competitive nature of the game by giving North Force a clear advantage for the rest of the match.
Oso's second goal midway through the spell was a classic poacher's effort. Aaron Taylor's powerful shot from 25m was destined for the back of the net until Oso's head popped up to get the final touch. Oso completed the scoring with a penalty after the hard-working Mark Ruddell was taken down in front of goal.
Oso said he had to promise his skipper a beer to get the ball out of his hands for the penalty.
"I had to promise that I'd get it as well but I'm glad I did. It's been a great year for me and with my third hat-trick today I feel I'm playing very well, mainly because my fitness levels are higher this year," the 24-year-old striker said.
North Force reserves had a good 3-1 win in the mud at Tikipunga Park, with young striker Murray Wootten claiming all three. Central defenders Sam Rout and Matt Ward had blinders as they adapted well to abysmal conditions to cancel out the threat from the Birkenhead attack.
The Northland League Cup final later in the season will be between Kamo and Onerahi after two very different semifinals on Saturday. Kamo demolished an inexperienced FC Whangarei side 15-2, while Onerahi edged home against Kerikeri 3-2.