So close, yet so far was how North Force women felt after their game against Fencibles United at Pakuranga on the weekend. When striker Katie Rood scored the Northern contingent's first goal of the season in the opening 10 minutes of Sunday's match, the team's confidence lifted. After leading for nearly allof the first half, North Force conceded two easy goals just before halftime and the home side held on to their lead to win 2-1. Coach Bruce Plunkett, who has returned to train the North Force side after a short break, said it was a much improved performance. "It was the best I've ever seen them play in the 2 years I've been involved with them." The team were pleased with their improvement, but were also slightly disappointed, as they felt it was a match they could've won, Plunkett said. Standouts in Sunday's game between the sixth and seventh-placed teams in the Northern Premier Women's League were centre-midfield players Estelle Harris and Nicky Anderson - who played solid football throughout, the coach said. It has not been an easy start to the North Force's first season in the league, playing three of the top teams in one of the toughest women's competitions in New Zealand during the first three rounds. Three Kings, Lynn-Avon and Glenfield Rovers all have international imports playing for them, and defeated the newly promoted North Force by some hefty scorelines. However, Plunkett said the girls had learnt from those matches, and an improved performance on Sunday showed that. "I'm very proud of the girls to be fair," he said. "They are learning - it's like starting a new job. The main thing is that the girls see themselves getting better each week." On Sunday, North Force women are away once more to play third-placed Eastern Suburbs, who had the bye on the weekend - another tough ask for the visitors. But there was no doubt in Plunkett's mind of great things to come from the North Force women. "It's a work in progress." Meanwhile, North Force men are also away this weekend, facing North Shore City at Allen Hill Stadium.
