Aeros blast off in opener - Portage Daily Graphic

BY RYAN DIXON
Thursday May 26, 2005

SOUTHPORT — The second half was Southport Aeros’ time to shine.After a scoreless opening frame, the Second Division Aeros took flight over the final 45 minutes of their game with IPAC Ukraine, earning a 2-0 victory in their first Manitoba Major Soccer League game of the year last night at Southport Recreation Centre.Striker Rob Gemmell finally broke through for Southport (1-0) in the game’s 60th minute, rolling a ball into the left side of the cage.“Jake (Stecher) put a nice ball through the middle and I just one-timed it and picked the corner,” Gemmell explained.“I was a bit lucky. I didn’t hit it as solid as I would have liked, but a goal’s a goal.”In this case, it was more than a goal, as Gemmell’s tally seemed to loosen up an Aeros bunch which appeared to be frustrated by its inability to cash in on the chances its tenacious attack was affording.But just one minute after Gemmell’s goal, Southport struck again, as Stecher snuck a ball inside the left post.That marked the high-point for Stecher, who had to leave the game before the ensuing kickoff because his calves were cramping up.Southport continued to pressure Ukraine (0-1), rattling a few more posts before the final whistle blew.“We had lots of chances,” Gemmell stated. “We could have had six or seven tonight, really.”Southport co-coach and midfielder Danny Brooks said some halftime adjustments, which included moving Stecher up to striker, paid off for the club after the Aeros battled through a somewhat tentative first half.“We pretty much controlled the play in the second half,” Brooks remarked.“We were pushing the ball around, getting the ball down the wings.”According to Brooks, the defining difference in Southport’s game during the second stanza was the Aeros’ ability to identify and cover their respective checks.“I thought we marked up better in the second half, for sure,” he assessed.“I think that was the difference right there, marking up a little tighter.”Ukraine coach Jerry Ochrymowicz said his team, which is playing in Second Division for the first time in several years, will require some more games before it starts to gel.The coach thought Southport’s aggression and knack for controlling the middle of the pitch played a crucial role in their win.“We lost the middle, then we lost the game,” Ochrymowicz stated.Brooks said he knew smothering Ukraine’s players would yield positive effects.“I said right from the start, these guys, they don’t like pressure,” he noted.“Get on them, be first to the ball and a lot of times, they’ll just quit.”The Aeros host Spitfire F.C. on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Southport.