Aeros suffer shutout loss against UFC - The Daily Graphic

Aeros suffer shutout loss against UFC

By Brian Bowman
For The Daily Graphic
Tuesday August 15, 2006

Portage la Prairie — Same old effort, same old results for Southport Aeros.
Missing several players in their lineup, the Aeros put forth a gritty effort in a 2-0 loss to United Football Club in Black Group action from Manitoba Major Soccer League’s Second Division at Southport Recreation Centre soccer pitch last night. The loss was the fourth straight for the Aeros.
“It was mental breakdowns -- not picking up the man or the check,” said Aeros coach Mitch Walker, whose club is now 1-11-2, after the game. “It’s mental lapses like that other teams capitalize on.”
United Football Club (6-5-2) capitalized on one of those mistakes around the 25-minute mark of the first half on a great individual effort by Rolly Magne.
Magne, with his 13th goal of the season, made a nifty play heading the ball over the outstretched arms of Aeros keeper Glen Pauch and then tapping the ball into the empty net for the 1-0 lead.
It would be a lead United would never relinquish.
“It wasn’t a pretty game,” admitted Magne, who saw limited action due to a pulled hamstring injury. “But we wanted the three points and we wanted to redeem ourselves when (Southport) beat us.
“We definitely had the better chances and our defence took away their top players and didn’t give them many chances.”
But while Southport’s offence was stagnant most of the night, it was United which had its fair share of quality chances in the first stanza, most of them coming in the latter stages of the half.
With the game still scoreless, Aeros defender Eric Philippot made a great play stopping a shot that had eluded Pauch. Minutes later, United’s Charles Chukwukaene missed on a glorious chance, nailing a shot from about 20 yards out that sailed just over the goal.
Still, while the score was just 1-0 after Magne’s tally, one could sense that lead was going to be widened. And it was, around the 35-minute mark of the half, on a goal by Chris Wasylin.
Wasylin, who was later ejected from the game in the second half after receiving his second yellow card, scored on a nice header off of a throw-in.
“It’s been like that all season,” admitted the Aeros’ Tony Bryson. “We let our guard down for 10 minutes and they pop a couple.”
While the team has struggled in the win column, Bryson was impressed with the effort the team came up with despite missing several regulars in its lineup.
“It’s hard when you have nothing to play for,” he admitted.
The Aeros’ next action is on Aug. 24 against AC Slater in Winnipeg. Southport,which is destined for relegation to Third Division of MMSL next year, will wrap up the regular season on Aug. 31 against Blue Blazers, with the game slated to be played in Southport.