United holds on for 2-1 win-The Daily Graphic

United holds on for 2-1 win
Victory over Tri-S Strike Force puts Southport at the top of Fourth Division Black Group

By Paul Grigaitis
For The Daily Graphic
Wednesday August 02, 2006

Portage la Prairie — Hot and humid weather wasn’t enough to slow down Southport United who came up victorious in a tight soccer match with Tri-S Strike Force.
The win was the fifth for Southport and crucial to its standings.
Southport started slowly, but withstood Sunday’s heat and held on to a narrow 2-1 lead for an important away game victory.
“This time of the season you don’t want to start slow. You want to take it to the opposition,” said head coach Albert Philippot.
Jamie Bernard opened the scoring for United with a goal midway through the first half, but the Force scored with about 10 minutes remaining. The game remained tied until about 30 minutes into the second half when Darren Reichart scored the winning goal for Southport.
“Basically, we kept putting on the pressure,” said Philippot.
The coach said it was a very important win.
“The win meant a lot. It was a team we wanted to win against.”
The game also saw the return of the team’s leading scorer, Ray Chabot, who pulled a muscle during United’s previous contest against Fusion FC on July 17.
Sunday’s win places Southport into a three-way tie for first place in Black Group of Manitoba Major Soccer League’s Fourth Division. Saint James Hurricane and Lusitania Revolution are the only other two teams with 18 points in the division.
“We want to stay up there,” said Philippot. “We want to keep on playing like we know we can.”
United has four more games before playoffs begin -- all of them on home turf. The local team plays Carman Kickers at 7 p.m. on Aug. 9.
“They want to move up, too,” said Philippot, adding his team won’t take the Kickers lightly. The last time the two teams met, Southport won by a score of 3-0.
Playing aggressively is a key factor to Southport as the team heads toward the playoffs.
“We can’t let up,” said Philippot. “We have to play hard in the next four.”
After the Aug. 9 game with the Kickers, Southport finishes the season against Saint James, Fusion FC and then Lusitania on Aug. 28.
Even with the playoffs on the horizon, Southport will use the same strategy it has all season.
“We’re not looking any further than the next game,” said Philippot. “It’s how we’ve been playing so far and it’s worked for us.”
Although a little disappointed with Sunday’s slow start, Philippot credits his team’s effort for Sunday’s win.
“The guys played their hearts out and came out with a win.”
Lusitania and Southport both have four games left in the season. However, Saint James has five games left, giving it an opportunity to pull ahead and take hold of the division’s lead by season’s end.