Late goal saves point for United - The Daily Graphic

By Julie Horbal
The Daily Graphic
Friday June 23, 2006

Mark Nunn’s patience has paid off in a big way.
After working tirelessly on the sidelines for his entire United career to date, Nunn’s first ever Southport goal gave his squad a much-needed point last night.
With just minutes remaining in the match between Southport United (1-3-2) and Reservoir Dogs (1-4-1) last night at Southport Recreation Complex soccer pitch, Nunn delivered a beauty of a tally off a goalmouth scramble for a 2-2 final and pulled his club out of a three-game losing streak.
“He was so discouraged last year because he couldn’t put the ball in the net. It was so good to see him deliver,” said excited Southport coach Albert Philippot following the nailbiter. “After three losses, that tie is nice to have.”
It was not nice the whole way through, as the game, which was Southport’s first after a 9-0 blowout at the hands of Winnipeg Triumph on June 16, did not start out promisingly.
Reservoir Dogs went up 1-0 with 24 minutes gone in the contest, while Southport flailed around the field and left men unmarked.
Philippot took some blame for the early confusion, as he was trying “something new,” but expected the players to be a little more organized than they were.
“We tried to mix the players’ positions around and basically everybody didn’t know which position they were supposed to be in,” laughed Philippot.
“That’s why we had a slow start. Once we got back to our normal positions, though, things improved considerably.”
United started mounting pressure midway through the first half and fired shot after shot at the Dogs’ keeper and gradually wore him down.
At the 55-minute mark, Southport’s Trevor Kehler corralled an incoming corner kick and kept chipping away until the ball found the back of the Dogs’ net to even the game 1-1.
“At moments, we had momentum. There were some moments that we seemed to struggle, but it’s not a loss,” said Philippot, who had great praise for his squad, but also some constructive criticism.
“We’ve got to practice our first touch, because that was our killer. We couldn’t get more than three passes together. That doesn’t work. If you can’t make more than three passes, you can’t win a game.”
Both sides had trouble getting the ball to settle down for themselves following the equalizer and both were fervent in their attempts to break the deadlock.
Southport keeper Steve Assenmacher made a few huge jumping saves, but eventually fell victim to a defensive miscue, which found him on the ground at the front of the penalty area and the ball in the back of the United net.
United lost some of its drive immediately following the go-ahead goal, but rallied enough to give Nunn the big opportunity he needed to knot the affair.
With 10 minutes left in the contest, Jamie Bernard delivered a pass to the front of the net and Nunn missed the shot, regrouped and finally buried it.
Southport’s bench erupted in a moral -- if not statistical -- victory.
“Everyone’s spirits definitely improved,” said Philippot, whose club next faces Tri-S Strike Force (0-5) at home on June 28 at 7:30 p.m.
“That was basically a win for us. After that 9-0 thumping, this is improved. We’ve got to play our positions a little bit better, but I’m very happy with this outcome. The guys played hard.”