Coach 'pleased' with Force's third-place

Bunbury Forum Force coach Trent Hathaway felt his team should have won the league but was still 'pleased' with their third-place State League Division One finish.

"After the start we had, I think we should have won the league but with the players that came into the team, third-place is a good result," Hathaway said.

"Overall I’m pleased but I feel like we could have challenged more."

Bunbury won nine of its first 10 matches and was sitting comfortably on top of the table mid-year.

Inconsistent results during the second half of the season, particularly away from home where it failed to win five trips to Perth, saw them slip to third place with 14 wins, three draws and five losses.

Hathaway felt the squad struggled for depth later in the season.

"We had a lack of depth and experience once a few injuries and suspensions started to come through," he said.

"A few boys have come through the ranks and got a taste of what the first team was like so even if we have the same players next year, they will have more experience and our depth will be better."

Bunbury ended the season by beating Ashfield 3-2, a result that denied its former alliance club the league title.

Hathaway pointed to another game as season defining, praising the character of his side after two players were sent off during a 1-0 loss to Swan United.

"Before the red cards we were quite flat but the players stepped up and showed passion and that they wanted to play for the side," he said.

He believed that setback galvanised the team and re-focused them for the rest of the season.

Without the lure of promotion to the NPL this season, a lack of motivation could have been a factor but Hathaway said he was still focused on success.

"The coaching staff didn't think that, we went in to win the league like we go into everything wanting to win," he said.

"The playing group might have been a bit more lackadaisical and maybe thought they could have a bit more fun and enjoy playing on Sundays as well.

"That all depends if players can handle it, some players might do better playing two games."

Looking to 2015 and Football West has confirmed it will award promotion to the top Division One team.

Hathaway confirmed he would be part of next year’s campaign and said he was looking to strengthen the squad, but would not specifically look overseas like in previous seasons, and also aimed to expand the coaching staff.

"We probably need another striker and an out-and-out defender," he said.

"There are a few players we’ve started talking to already, such as a few of our juniors that have gone to NPL clubs and the NTC."

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