Aeros’ season ends with loss to United - PDG

BY JOEY PAYEUR
Tuesday October 04, 2005

WINNIPEG — With everything Southport Aeros have gone through this year, certainly getting one bonus game at the end of a long season was within their rights -- and they almost got two.Southport had a 1-0 lead just before half-time when a controversial play set up the tying goal and turned the tide in favour of United F.C., which scored the game winner in the second half for a 2-1 victory in Manitoba Major Soccer League Second Division quarter-final action on Sept. 25 in Winnipeg.Duane Chaves put the Aeros in front with yet another great individual effort, working his way around a pair of United defenders before delivering a cannon shot to the lower corner.With the intermission looming and the lead seemingly safe, disaster struck Southport in the form of a misstep and a possible mistaken call by the match referee.“The ball had lots of moisture on it from the morning dew,” recounted Aeros defender Cam Scott, who unintentionally instigated the mishap. “I went to clear it, and the ball went off my foot and deflected back into the 18-yard box.“(Southport goalkeeper) Jay Barber) picked it up,” he continued. “No one thought there was a problem. But the ref called me for passing it back to Jay, and gave United a free kick from about 13 yards out. Our wall was backed right up into the net, and they scored off the free kick when it deflected in.”Still reeling from their bad luck, the Aeros couldn’t regroup enough to hold off United, which scored midway through the second half and held on for the win in the affair that began at 9:15 a.m., a kickoff time that had Scott wondering about the league’s playoff scheduling procedures.“The game could have been at a better time for us,” he declared. “Because we’re in Portage, we have to be up at 7 a.m. or sooner to make it out to Winnipeg in time. I know the day and time was picked a long time ago. But it wouldn’t have taken that much to switch one game time.“I think we got the raw end of the deal. I don’t want to make any grudges. But it’s not just us. You have teams in the division from Carman, Selkirk and Winkler, too. Help us out a little bit.”Though the season didn’t finish on an up note, Scott was satisfied with the effort the team put in during a 10-8-4 regular season which put it fifth in Second Division, two points back of Selkirk and United.“Except for that horrendous drought in July, it was a pretty successful season,” stated Scott, who had truckloads of praise for the younger Aeros who firmly established themselves as credible contributors to the Southport cause.“Guys like Dawson Ogilvie, Ben Wettlaufer and Chris Carson stepped up and played full-time roles for us, and guys like Nick St. Goddard and Jordan McAllister also played well.”Southport’s only stretch of difficulty came in July, when it went 0-4-1 and scored only seven goals in five games.No review of the Aeros’ season would be complete without mention of the incredible story of Chaves, who was critically injured in a workplace accident on May 6, but returned almost 11 weeks later and went on to terrorize goalkeepers for an amazing 13 goals in 11 games to lead Southport and almost the Second Division in scoring.“Duane was beyond the hospital bed,” Scott said in reference to the striker’s fragile condition after the accident.“The chance to see what he has been able to do has been absolutely phenomenal. It shows what youth and strength and a good positive attitude can do for a person.“If he’s with us all year, things are different and we’re definitely challenging for promotion (to First Division), rather than just finishing fifth.”Southport player/coach Danny Brooks, who missed the playoff game, said his team can take pride in the demeanour with which it carried itself throughout the MMSL season.“We’ll probably win the team sportsmanship award from the league,” said Brooks.“We managed to stay disciplined and avoid getting into card trouble. We had no one in front of the league disciplinary committee.“Next year is about rebuilding. I have had the opportunity to scout the talent at the high school games while I’m refereeing, and I certainly think there’s a few more youngsters that will be coming into the fold for us next summer.”