SOCCER: North Force recover as Oso saves the day

Sammy Oso's hat-trick goal secured a valuable three points over old rivals Mt Albert-Ponsonby on Saturday, but perhaps more importantly spared his defenders from blushes all round, as they contrived to blow a handy lead for the team midway through the second spell. T he spectators massed on the bank at Kamo were treated to a graphic example of the sporting cliche - a team imploding - in the Northern Federation division one football match.
North Force looked to be cruising to victory midway through the second spell, leading 3-0 after dominating the match in the first three quarters but their seemingly unassailable position led to some over-confident defending.
The visitors were sharp enough to punish the sleepy defence twice before North Force conceded an unfortunate penalty that tied the game with 10 minutes to go.
Oso's 4-3 winner, with about five minutes of regular time left, showed off a goal-scoring ability unrivalled in the team.
After being put through by a great ball by Scott Burgess, the striker sized up the situation well and his first-time shot beat the advancing keeper to fall just inside the upright - to the obvious relief of the team, the bench and the fans.
They had to wait anxiously as the referee played a long spell of injury time before the match was finally over and the celebrations could begin.
"It's good to be back scoring goals again it was just what I needed," Oso said after the game.
"I was so excited to see the last goal go in because I was hungry for the hat-trick."
North Force coach Paul Cross said the second-half collapse wasn't helped by the referee awarding a dubious penalty but he thought the best side had won.
"We were the better side for probably more than 70 percent of that game but at this level if you sleep for ten minutes you get punished," he said.
North Force were the better side in the first spell but missed a few clear goal-scoring chances with Oso's chip over the keeper the only score of the spell.
The home side continued to dominate in the second spell and the relief on the bench was obvious when Oso added a second goal ten minutes after the break.
Burgess should have added a third 10 minutes later but instead drew a good save from the keeper. From the resulting corner Steve Crowley headed home to take the score to 3-0.
It should have been game over, but unaccountably the defenders eschewed a safety-first policy and two great finishes by Mt Albert's Andrew Booth within five minutes saw the visitors close to 3-2.
With alarm bells ringing North Force tightened up their defence. The referee and linesman missed a dangerously lifted boot by a Mt Albert striker and on the back foot North Force captain Bruce Plunkett grabbed the striker's shirt and the referee signalled a penalty, apparently for handball.
Plunkett argued with good reason but for too long and added yet another yellow card to his collection.
Chris Gage stuck a good penalty past Leon Taylor and it was left to Oso to change the team's sinking fortunes.
In Northland Premier League, four goals to Malcolm Green helped FC Whangarei move to the top of the table on goal difference with a 6-0 thumping of Kerikeri.
Third-placed Kamo held second-placed Kaikohe to a goal-less draw, while Onerahi and Madhatters were the other winners of the round.