Storm remain unbeaten - Winkler Times

Storm remain unbeaten

By Steve Martens
Friday July 29, 2005

Winkler Times — The Winkler Storm remained the only First Division team without a loss following a 2-1 defeat of Grant Mill Sword in Winkler last Friday.A second half goal from Nico Nickel and a late penalty stop by keeper Ben Plett enabled the Storm to hold off the visitors and improve their season record to 7-0-3.The Storm deserved the three points as they controlled the ball for most of second half but could only convert on one of their dozen shots at goal. Their sustained pressure was finally rewarded in the 57th minute as Nico Nikkel headed home a David Doerksen cross from four metres out, outjumping a Sword defender and the charging keeper. It was Nickel’s tenth goal of the season, second best in the First Division. The visitors’ chances to equalize were few and far between, but their best opportunity came with just seven minutes left, when a penalty kick was awarded when the Grant Mill striker was hauled down in the box. But they wouldn’t steal the point as Plett stretched full out to his right to stop the shot. The visitors would not seriously threaten the rest of the way.The teams had been tied at one at the half as Winkler’s Justin Thiessen and Tope Bammeke traded markers. Doerksen had hit the post soon after the re-start and Vitali Bauer had an apparent insurance goal in the 69th minute, as he was on the receiving end of an Eddie Wiens corner, but it was cleared off the line with just inches to spare by a blue-shirted defender. Two days earlier at Crocus Park in Transcona, the Storm drew 2-2 with New Youth United with goals from Doerksen and Bauer.Those results left the Storm in second place in the First Division, two points back of Eritrean, but Winkler stills holds two games in hand. The Storm’s plus-22 goal differential is tops in the division primarily because they have surrendered just five goals in their ten outings. The Storm begin a three game homestand July 29 when they host Britannia, followed by games with Hanover August 2 and Scotia United August 4.