Ndima, Pescara knock around Aeros - The Daily Graphic

Ndima, Pescara knock around Aeros


By Julie Horbal
The Daily Graphic
Wednesday July 05, 2006

Southport Aeros did not need Eric Ndima to rub a poorly-played game in their faces.
But the Pescara striker did just that -- over and over again.
Ndima hammered Southport for four goals in a 5-2 win for Pescara (1-5) last night at Southport Recreation Centre soccer pitch, with the Aeros (0-5-1) not doing much to help their own cause.
Despite controlling much of the play for the half, the last-place squad in Manitoba Major Soccer League’s Second Division Black Group could not follow through on passes nor buy a goal to save their lives.
“That’s been the story this year. The bounces aren’t going our way and we’re just lacking in effort,” said a frustrated Southport coach Mitch Walker.
“It seems like we’re not pacing ourselves and the effort just isn’t being put forth when it’s needed.”
Southport came out of the gates with razor-sharp intensity and agile legs, allowing few shots to reach keeper Glen Pauch. But by halftime, the Aeros were visibly worn and could barely hold the ball in front of the Pescara net.
And that just won’t do, according to the coach.
“You’ve gotta have the ball in order to shoot the ball and score the ball,” Walker said.
“We’re not putting the effort to score and gain possession. We don’t have the effort to support each other in passes. The effort in passing itself isn’t there either and that shows when we’re not working to the target.”
Southport’s Dylan Wiebe and Duane Chaves each had several good chances, but none which could elude Pescara keeper Nick Fortier to keep the game scoreless through the first half.
Pescara came out with a vengeance in the second half and took the lead early in the session when Ndima launched a hard shot off a cross from Pauch’s left side, pulling the keeper too far out of the net to be able to recover.
The go-ahead goal deflated Southport’s momentum instantly and Ndima beat Pauch again during a goalmouth scramble less than 10 minutes later.
Southport’s Ben Wettlaufer collected a nice pass from Nick St. Goddard and hammered a floater past Fortier midway through the half to cut the lead to 2-1.
But the majority of his squad did not raise its effort level to tie things up, as Pescara maintained continual possession of the ball and eventually scored on an Aeros’ mistake.
In an attempt to pass back to Pauch, Southport defender Cam Scott misplayed a header in front of his own net and Pescara’s Josh Frankel found the ball before the goalkeeper.
A breakaway shot by the striker gave Pescara a 3-1 lead and for the most part the Aeros just shook their heads and watched after that.
Desperation kicked in a few minutes later, but it was too late for Southport, and Ndima found the net twice more before the contest was done.
Matt Bernard sandwiched a Southport goal between Ndima’s last two markers, but the effort was not enough to sustain any sort of offensive attack.
In Walker’s opinion, the game was just another in a long line of subpar efforts this season and both he and co-coach Roger Fooks are at a loss as to what to do now.
“I don’t know what it is. We’re working hard at practicing. Practices are well attended. It just doesn’t translate to effort at game time,” Walker said. “There is just no desire to win and I’m not getting that winning vibe when they go on the field. I don’t know what we can do other than go out there and do things for them.”
Last night’s loss was especially hard to take, since Pescara and Southport were neck-in-neck on the bottom rung of the Second Division Black Group standings.
It was no secret to Southport, which sees its next action at home on July 10 against A.C. Slater (1-2-4), how much weight was attached to the game.
“(Last) evening would have been the victory for us. One win is what it’s going to make the difference because not one team in our group has a pile of wins,” said Walker.
“I don’t want to use the old adage of the critical victory, but if we win (last night), with our tie from the opener we get three points and we’re right into the middle of the pack.”