Soccer: Force score a solid away-win

The soccer gods smiled on Bunbury Forum Force on Saturday as they took a grip on the All Flags Division One leadership.

Picture: Bunbury defender-turned-striker Oliver McGee scored a goal his side’s 3-0 win on Saturday.

Not only did the South West-based franchise break a string of away defeats, four rival results fell their way in a massive heap.

Playing Ashfield, a team with one of the best home records in Division One and who have not lost at home since April, the Force took command from the start to run out 3-0 winners and open up a little gap at the top of the points table.

Breathing down their necks, Shamrock Rovers, were held to a draw by Morley-Windmills while Wanneroo and Swan United both lost to lower-placed teams Dianella White Eagles and Forrestfield.

In one of the best days of the season for head coach Nigel Wilcox, the fledgling youth brigade were pipped by Ashfield 2-3 after conceding a big first-round defeat while the reserves won at a canter to set the scene for the league team’s heady win.

Andfor the coach, amove to shift staunch defender OliverMcGeeto the frontwas not just a one-off success with the burly blonde following his first forward foray of two goals against Forrestfield a fortnight ago with another on Saturday to prove his tenure among the strikers.

A further feather was the first run of the season from a broken foot of ace goal sneak Paul Harvey who did not score in his two20-minute sorties in the reserves and the league, but showed touches of his ability.

The former Division One goalscorer of the year featured in a productive run in the reserves and when brought on for a league run after half time,showed his class withsomedeft touches and top positioning.

Loathe to single out any player for pecial praise, the elated coach claimed a team effort for their victory over Ashfield and looked forward to their date with Shamrock Rovers in Bunbury come Saturday.

The coach was also happy with his defence, saying: ‘‘They stoodup well when Ashfield came at us hard after half time’’.

Ashfield were rocked by the visitors with a third-minute,Mike Merten-goal with the centre striker settling well with a second goal 10 minutes later before Ashfield packed their defences to deny the Force any further first-half success.

Keeping up the pressure,McGee added the third Force goal on the hour.