Aeros can’t solve AC Slater defence

By Julie Horbal
The Daily Graphic
Tuesday July 11, 2006

It was not a win, but last night was one step closer to a winning attitude for Southport Aeros.
The Aeros (0-7-1), who have struggled with lackluster efforts over the past few weeks, dropped a 2-0 decision to AC Slater (2-2-4) last night at Southport Recreation Complex soccer pitch.
According to Aeros coach Mitch Walker, the lack of offence is a going concern, but the Aeros will take whatever improvement they can get.
“It was a much better effort than our last game. It’s the old adage: coming slowly but surely,” Walker said. “We’ve got to put balls in the back of the net if we want to win games. You don’t win many games if you don’t score any goals, but it was a much better effort.”
Slater took a 1-0 lead courtesy of Gavin Cornelius before 30 minutes were gone in the first half, then nabbed a two-goal lead on a failed clearing attempt just prior to halftime.
After an Aeros defender missed getting the ball out of the Southport crease, goalkeeper Glen Pauch made a great save, but fumbled away the ball to Slater’s Jon Beardsley, who tucked it into the empty corner of the net.
The marker temporarily deflated the Southport players, who slunk through the rest of the half without much energy or gusto -- and with a bit of frustration Walker summed up to feeling a lack of luck.
“We just aren’t getting the bounces. (Slater’s) goals, you don’t want to say they were fluky, but they’re drawing on the spots,” Walker said. “Unfortunately, luck is a certain factor and luck hasn’t been coming our way.”
Southport came out with a score to settle in the second half and -- at the very least -- to leave AC Slater’s score unchanged. They succeeded in the latter.
The Aeros communicated better with each other and put up a mighty fight, but couldn’t put the shots where they needed them.
They were, however -- unlike the past few games -- consistently moving about the field, an encouraging sign for their coach.
“We’re getting guys into more positional play. Before it was helter-skelter, just trying to figure out where guys should play,” Walker said. “Now if we’re sending guys out, we know where they’re going and they go there.”
Despite only a few shots reaching the Slater net, Southport’s more organized attack showed signs of good things to come. Though passes were not always reaching their destination and players not always reaching their targeted location, practice should soon make progress, if not perfect.
“There’s more substance to our attack and I think we just need to practice getting ourselves more scoring opportunities,” said Walker, whose squad next faces United Football Club (3-4-1) on July 18 in Winnipeg.
“We need to start letting our legs go. Start shooting. Don’t worry about the perfect shots, just getting any shot.”