A second half hat-trick by Steve Schimmel made sure North Force returned to Whangarei bristling with confidence after their 4-0 demolition of Claudeland Rovers.
Rovers had seven points to show from their last three Northern League Division Two matches and were looking to extend the run against North Force athome but the Northland side had other ideas.
"We really took it to them all day and it could have been more, maybe six or seven, we totally outplayed them," coach Russell Baddeley said.
North Force pressure led to an own goal for a slim first-half lead but Schimmel's flurry of goals underlined the difference between the teams and left the Northland team daring to raise their expectations.
"The way the other results have happened today, it leaves us just three points off the top of the table.
"And with the next three games against the three bottom clubs, we're in a pretty good position, so confidence is just flowing through the boys," Baddeley said.
The coach praised the defence, in particular Ben Porter and Jeremy Rintoul.
"Shane Stanners in goal was also faultless so that's two clean sheets in a row for him ..."
