Football: Loss forces season refocus for club

WINNING THE RACE: Central Brown beat Bream Bay United 3-0 at Blue Goose on Saturday. Bream Bay United player Corey West, left and Central Brown's Heath Mabbett chase down a pass.PHOTO/JOHN STONE

A second half goal to Paulo Montino sank North Force's promotion aspirations for 2014 but a senior player says this season is just a small part of the club's journey.

Jeremy Rintoul said the 0-1 loss to Fencibles United at Kamo on Saturday means North Force's remaining games in Northern League Division Two will be an exercise in team building.

"We're now out of the promotion battle but we can still add a bit of credibility to our season by getting back to our winning ways," Rintoul said.

The Kerikeri defender said there was "big picture" development going on at the club at the moment.

"One season doesn't really mean much in the greater scheme of things and that's what we've been trying to do this year - build a solid squad for more than just one year of competition," he said.

He said even if they had won promotion this year, they might have just as easily battled against relegation next season, so the idea is to continue building a squad that can compete comfortably at the next level.

Rintoul was part of arguably one of the most successful North Force teams but came back to play for the franchise club when their fortunes appeared to be in decline.

"When we all "retired" there seemed to be very few young players coming through, so a few of us decided that we should come back at least until they build a bit of depth around the squad," he said.

Other experienced North Force players like Steve Schimmel and Scott Burgess have also added some steel to the ranks of the squad this year under the watchful eye of coach Russell Baddeley.

After capitulating against Oratia last week, North Force were more competitive against Fencibles United at Kamo. "It was a really close game and both sides had chances to score - the difference was that they put their one away and we couldn't," Rintoul said.

North Force play Lynn Avon away next weekend looking to stop their recent run of losses.

In the Northland Premier Grade FC Whangarei carried on their winning ways with a 6-1 demolition of Kamo to remain at the top of the table. Second placed Kerikeri were held 1-1 by Onerahi, while Central Brown beat Bream Bay United 3-0 at Blue Goose.