Virginia Beach, Virginia -- For the second time in as many home games, wet and windy weather met the Virginia Beach Mariners players and fans at the Sportsplex and for the second time the fans were treated to a home win as the Mariners shut out Atlanta 1-0.
And for the second home game in a row, the win came off the foot of forward Greg Simmonds.
There were few highlights in the first half other than the ten fouls committed in the first 16 minutes and the 30-yard shot taken by Simmonds off a free kick that Atlanta keeper Felipe Quintero was just able to save. The first half ended scoreless with the Mariners outshooting Atlanta only 4-2.
Twelve minutes into the second half, in the 57th minute, Simmonds hit the cross bar from just outside the 18-yard box on yet another free kick. But in the 75th minute he found the back of the net on a set piece from 27 yards out. Atlanta forward Fabian Dawkins was given a yellow card for a hard foul on Kupono Low who had beaten Dawkins to the ball. Simmonds scored on the resulting free kick. The Mariners outshot Atlanta 12-4 for the game.
Head coach Jay Hoffman was pleased but not excited about his team's performance. "We created more chances in our loss to Charleston," he said. "You can choreograph and practice set pieces, but we need to be more creative on the field."
Defender Russell Hutchison made his first regular season appearance for 2006 after pulling a calf muscle in the fourth week of the preseason. Goalkeeper Matt Nelson recorded his second shutout in three matches.
The Mariners will now have eight days off before they host Montreal on Sunday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Scoring Summary 1 2 FT
Virginia Beach 0 1 1
Atlanta 0 0 0
Virginia Beach (Simmonds 75 unassisted)
Starting lineups:
Virginia Beach: Matt Nelson, Chris Schwarze, Alan Woods, Steve Danbusky, Kupono Low, Steve Shak, Jeff Bilyk, Felix Brillant (McColm Cephas 45 , Hutchison 89), Tim O'Neill (Leepaul Scoggins 71), Ryan Mack (Jakob Fenger 65), Greg Simmons (Gary Brooks 80)
Subs not used: Dan Ruch, Shane McFaul
Atlanta: Felipe Quintero, Marlon Rojas (Matt O'Toole 45), Joe Afful (Omar Jarun 70), Matt Bobo, Antonio DeLa Torre, Jason McLaughlin, Tony McManus, Rodrigo Rios, Josh Smith (Alex Pineda-Chacon 45), Liam George, Fabian Dawkins
Subs not used: Shaun Kalnasy, Warren Ukah
Officials: Mark Kadlecik, Shaun Papperman, Dan Stead, Robert Velbis
Attendance: 2,387
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Carol Senechal
For the Virginia Beach Mariners
