Time for North Force to step up

While the North Force football team's season hasn't been full of wins as yet, tomorrow's match at Toll Stadium serves as a good chance to test themselves against a team midway up the table.

North Force's director of football said tomorrow's match against North Shore United would be a bit less of a one-sided affair compared to recent matches against top-five teams.

"Given we've playing a team who is sitting mid table it's definitely an opportunity for the boys to step up and show what they've learnt from the games so far," Cross said of North Shore who sit on six points compared to North Force's one.

"In terms of results, a positive one would be us performing to our ability and targeting the things we've worked on in training. If we do that, we should get a positive result."

Cross maintained that while winning was always a goal for teams, more importantly North Force wanted to play an expansive and attractive brand of football which was appealing to watch.

He said that winning so far this season had proven difficult after only four of last season's squad of about 14 had remained playing, with North Force's best result being a draw in their opening match against Mt Albert.

"I think we were fortunate to draw Mt Albert [first up] as they're likely to end up in the bottom five along with us, so it wasn't quite a baptism of fire as such. [However], our next five or six games are going to important for us to see where we are at," said Cross.

"Whilst results define where you end up, the board has been conscious of it [losing due to the lack of returning players] because it keeps you in the top division, we asked ourselves what we are about and what we are trying to achieve.

"[For North Force at the moment] it's about trying to create a pathway for our young players, and then improving those players."

Also playing at Toll Stadium tomorrow are North Force's women's team, who has started the season well with only a 1-nil loss blemishing their record so far.

North Force at Toll Stadium:

North Force women v Forrest Hill Milford, 11am.

North Force men reserves v North Shore, 1pm.

North Force first team v North Shore United, 3pm.