At the time it may have seemed like the end of the world, but North Force's 2-1 away loss to Waiuku at the weekend is fuelling the fire for a big game this week against Tauranga.
After going up 1-0 early in the match thanks to a trademark Steve Schimmelstunner, North Force just needed to hold on to bring home the win in difficult conditions in Waiuku.
North Force coach Russell Baddeley said Saturday's loss hurt because he knew they could have won.
"They're a strong side and they just keep banging it high into the box until we broke," Baddeley said.
"This is a game in reality we probably should have won ... We had enough chances to score.
"I thought we were doing well when we were 1-0 up. I thought we just had to defend it but they put the pressure on and kept coming."
While disrupted by the unavailability of several frontline players, Baddeley felt his youngsters stepped up and would have taken a lot away from the game on Waiuku's difficult home pitch.
"On their ground you just can't play a passing game. It bobbles always and you can't play football. I think the big positive is a lot of young players would have learnt a lot of lessons. We play in Kamo and it's like playing on a golf course but some games you've got to go to these places and somehow find a result. Obviously Waiuku play on it every week so they adapt to it."
Baddeley said Calvin Elrick was player of day with Jeremy Rintoul and Shane Stanners also putting in good performances.
North Force will travel to Tauranga on Saturday, aiming to upset a side yet to lose at home this season.
However, North Force have beaten Tauranga this season in Kamo and are capable of causing the upset. North Force are yet to hear back from their protest over their 3-2 loss to Papakura, although they expect to hear back in the next few days.Waiuku 2 North Force 1 (Steve Schimmel). HT: 1-1
