Soccer: The force deserts Kingz after Lammers sent off

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Struggling in a lop-sided contest against a classy Adelaide Force side, the Football Kingz went down 2-0 in last night's National Soccer League clash at North Harbour Stadium.

From the time local referee Brian Precious sent Kingz John Lammers off in the 44th minute the home side was battling. They kept the visitors out for more than an hour but the advantage of the extra player eventually told.

The home side had begun as they had finished when beating Northern Spirit on the same ground six days earlier, but sadly that early initiative did not last. It was not until some "wake up Kingz, wake up and go forward" advice from the most vocal crowd of the season hit a nerve did they rekindle their attacking efforts.

In the meantime, the visitors - despite constant midfield pressure - should have gone ahead. Those hopes were dashed by Jason Batty, who celebrated his 29th birthday by handing out the presents in the form of three brilliant, point-blank diving saves.

The Force was surely with the visitors but some woeful finishing - six other shots which hardly troubled Batty - kept the Kingz in it.

On attack, the home side struggled with their diminutive strikeforce, winning little from the Angelo Costanzo-led defence. Lammers' departure, for an errant elbow, robbed the Kingz of any attacking height they'd had in the battle with Costanzo, Michael Cartwright and Alex Tobin.

The second spell was dominated from the outset by Adelaide, who attacked almost at will - eight scoring attempts in 14 minutes - and it was no surprise that they went ahead in the 63rd minute after a counter-attack sent Bradley Hassell clear. He dragged Batty off his line before angling home.

Rather than toss it away, the Kingz lifted their game and created a couple of chances and forced three successive corners - their first of the match.

But the final say was with the visitors. A long ball found veteran Aurelio Vidmar, whose pinpoint cross was headed home by Matthew Kemp.

There were half chances for Noah Hickey and substitute Wynton Rufer but the Force paced themselves to make ensure their 10th win. The Kingz were again left wondering why two wins in a row is so difficult.