Three Kings 1 North Force 5 (ht 0-1): The Force 15Bs completed their 2015 winter campaign in victorious fashion, winning the AFF 15th Conference league title with an emphatic away performance in Auckland on Sunday.
Coach Dan Johnston admitted to being a little concerned the team had arrived tired, with the Kerikeri players in the squad having to leave at 5.30am in order to arrive Hay Park in Auckland just before 9am for the earlier kick off time at 10am (made in order to allow four Force players to trial out for an upcoming NTC camp later that afternoon).
"We were slow in our warm-up but as soon as the game kicked off we went at them at 100 miles per hour and didn't take our foot off the pedal." Johnston said the visitors controlled proceedings really well, and went on to dominate possession and create numerous goal scoring opportunities whilst giving very little away. The breakthrough goal came just before half time thanks to some creative genius from prolific striker Bobby Ramo.
"Second half went much the same as the first but our finishing was way more ruthless," said Johnston, noting four more goals from captain Finn Diamond, Lewis Miller, Geoffrey Zwaneveld and the goal of the season from Malcolm Young, a 25-yard thunderbolt.
"The boys were in celebration mode as they were finally able to lift the trophy as champions on the last day of the season. Totally unexpected for us to finish near the top this year, never mind win the league."
