SOCCER - Taylor chisels out 100 games in Force

It doesn't hurt to throw in a few building metaphors to help describe Aaron Taylor's career at North Force.
The 26-year-old is a builder by trade and has framed a proud record with the club, last Saturday becoming the first player to accomplish 100 appearances.
Taylor is also a club foundation player, appearing in their opening encounter against Hibiscus Coast in 2004 and has been a model of consistency ever since.
He has never had a serious injury and has a high standard of fitness to thank for that.
"I try and stay as fit as I can really; between soccer training, work and surfing, you get pretty fit and while I've had the odd niggle, it's never been anything to keep me on the sidelines for long," Taylor said.
The Tikipunga player's only sustained absence from the side was last season when he took a few weeks off to go on a surfing trip to Central America.
The attraction of surfing at Northland beaches has kept the utility player from chasing higher honours anywhere else in the game, but playing at the highest level he can keeps him motivated.
"I enjoy playing against players that are quite a bit better than I am, that makes you lift your game every time you play, it really makes every game a challenge," he said.
North Force coach Dean Wheatley said Taylor's ability to play in any position offered options when picking the team.
"He's a great athlete, I can play him anywhere on the park through the middle and he'll still be as effective, he's a workaholic and although he doesn't score many, he sets up plenty of goals for others," Wheatley said.
Former coach and teammate Paul Cross said Taylor's name was always one of the first on the team sheet when he picked a side.
"He's a likable guy who's a bit of a quiet character off the field, a quiet achiever I guess you'd say, who always gives 100 per cent ... and that personifies what the North Force brand is all about," Cross said.
Taylor and the rest of the North Force troops line-up against a resurgent Albany United at Tikipunga tomorrow. Albany are just five points adrift of third-placed North Force on the US1 league table.
Revenge for a crushing 2-6 away defeat in the first round will be good motivation for the home team but they need little extra encouragement with points at a premium, with a close fight for the four playoffs spots beginning to develop.
Play in the Northland premier league is suspended this weekend, with League Cup semifinals taking centre stage. Kamo host FC Whangarei tomorrow, while Kerikeri and Onerahi clash at Waipapa Park.