Brumbies 'learning to win'
The Force were leading 17-13 with 10 minutes to go, when lock Ross Haylett-Petty was shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Brumbies scrumhalf Joe Powell.
The home side took full advantage as centre Kyle Godwin and replacement hooker Robbie Abel touched down to overhaul the Force and secure their first win after two close losses.
"It's a massive relief," Brumbies captain Sam Carter said.
"We're a pretty young side and we're learning to win.
"The last couple of weeks have been tough, but we managed to grind it out and it's a good win for us.
"I think we're pretty determined to never lose, it's good to get the 80-minute performance.
"It's massive for us at the moment, but we have to realise we're not world-beaters yet.
"We have to build on that and keep moving forward."
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said the team will remain grounded.
"There's good feeling in the group at the moment, it was certainly an emotional roller-coaster through the game but much better composure at the end and superb execution to finish the game off," Larkham said.
"We've learnt some lessons in the last two weeks.
"Will it be easier to sleep tonight?
"We're not getting ahead of ourselves. We'll enjoy that victory because it was a long-time coming."
The Brumbies scored four tries to two, but the Force still showed their rejuvenated spirit and proved they are not pretenders this year.
"We're pretty disappointed with that performance," coach Dave Wessels said.
"The Brumbies are good at forcing pressure, that's how they win games.
"To finish the game with almost double the amount of penalties against than four, when all week we've talked about our discipline, that's not acceptable really.
"First and foremost this performance is on me. My job is to make sure we get the messaging right.
"There will be a number of individuals who have to front up [for mistakes], that starts with me."
Force captain Heath Tessmann stressed the side's inability to take their early opportunities and keep pressure on the Brumbies cost them the win.
"It's really disappointing for us," he said.
"The Brumbies came out and played the way they wanted to play and we allowed them to do that.
"I think we let the pressure off in critical moments and they converted those opportunities.
"Letting off the pressure and giving away careless penalties gave them opportunities to maul inside our 22 and that's their bread and butter. We can't give them those opportunities but we did."
