Southern Breakers V Hahndorf
In round 6 of the SAASL Div 2, a depleted Hahndorf battled gamely before going down 4-1 against a controlled performance by Southern Breakers side.
Hahndorf’s horror run of injuries continued this week, with coach Peter Cottle reaching deep to put out a side that contained only two players from last years regular first team. The line-up saw a few players in unfamiliar roles with the improving Danny Pace donning the gloves behind a makeshift defence of Ash Parr, Paul Charles, Stephen Ness and cagey veteran Wayne Forrester.
The Magpies opted for a five man midfield of Tyrone Blunt, Craig Cottle and John Lawler alongside young improvers Jack Farrimond and Alex Oldham with the Argentinean Wiz Martin Moran the focal front man.
The Breaker’s pitch was in fine condition, showing little signs of the recent rains and the home team opened proceedings in attack mode. The new-look Magpie defence was tested early and after fifteen minutes the Breakers prised it open with a player able to advance unchallenged. He put in a cross that found a teammate who made no mistake from close range.
To Hahndorf’s credit they hit back within five minutes, Forrester using his guile to get on the end of Cottle’s deep free kick, his first touch taking him past the defender before burying the ball into the net with his left foot.
With both teams on the board, the game settled for a period with neither team able to get an advantage as the narrow pitch made for a congested midfield and both teams struggled to retain possession. However, the Breakers took an opportunistic lead when Hahndorf failed to mark up at a corner. The Breaker’s header fell to the near post and a striker lashed it home from close range.
At 2-1 the Breakers had their tails up and Pace was called into action soon after the restart, making several fine saves, in one instance doing well to keep out a fiercely hit shot before pouncing on the rebound. The stretched Magpies were defending with fortitude but an errant challenge drew a penalty call for the Breakers. Journeyman Glen Higgins used his experience to send Pace the wrong way and made the score 3-1 with a textbook penalty shot.
However it wasn’t all one-way traffic, Moran created several opportunities but often lacked support at crucial times. Farrimond worked extremely hard and linked with Moran to set up Blunt, his shot forcing a corner after some emergency rearguard defence by the home side. As the half drew to an end Pace made great save from Higgins’ volley, the young Hahndorf custodian continuing his outstanding year between the posts.
After the break, the home side were intent in increasing the score and Hahndorf weathered the pressure, the Breakers’ big striker Craig Baker shooting wide following a progressive build up.
Hahndorf then put together some nice football, Moran, Farrimond and Oldham moving the ball well but lacking the final pass to open the breakers defence. As the match progressed it was the Breakers who had more opportunities and possession but they also found it difficult to score.
The run of the day resulted from Parr, emerging from defence and going on a bustling run that left four Breakers in his wake as he arrowed toward goal. His fifty metre dash culminated in a terrific point blank save by the home sides ‘keeper as he managed to get an arm in the way of Parr’s shot.
The Magpies made a substitution, bringing on Rupert Lindon for Lawler and soon had to make another as the injury curse hit the Magpies again. Farrimond made a telling intercept in midfield but twisted his knee in getting the ball to Moran whose shot was cleared by the Breakers. Kyle Eglinton replaced Farrimond, who had been industrious all game and Hahndorf were down another key player.
The Breakers mounted further attacks but Ness and Forrester combined well to deny the hosts and set up a counter attack that resulted in a Magpie free kick.
Cottle’s free eluded everyone and it fell to Oldham, who was perhaps surprised it reached him and his shot at goal went wide. With players tiring, the Magpies made their final change, putting on livewire Luke Jones for Charles and moving Blunt into a defensive role, which he played well.
With Jones running up front with Moran, the Magpies created a few more chances but luck deserted them in the final minutes as the Breakers scored their fourth. A long ball fell into the penalty area among four players and bounced off a wayward leg to deflect past the stranded Pace.
The injury ravaged Hahndorf will be hoping to get some more of their senior players back on the park before it runs out of able bodies in the next few weeks, with games against league favourites Sturt Marion and Flinders Uni looming soon.
Reserves
The Reserves were unlucky to concede two first half goals before rallying in the second half to eventually go down 2-1 against the Southern Breakers Reserves.
With fit players at a premium, reserves coach Edmundo Palumbo came out of retirement to slot into his favoured full back position. The Italian Maestro didn’t disappoint his fans, getting into the action early and keeping the Magpies going forward with some incisive passes.
Hahndorf controlled the play from the start, with midfielders Vin Chow, Lachlan McQueen, Rupert “the Enforcer” Lindon, Stuart Thomas and Reserves debutant Sam Gowen pushing the ball around well and putting the hosts on the back foot. Luke Jones prowled the frontlines but couldn’t make the Breakers pay for Hahndorf early dominance.
The backline of Matt Medley, Mark McGrath and Andy Craig defused the Breakers forays forward and it was a shock when the hosts went ahead with their first entry into the penalty area. A square ball catching Hahndorf out and an unmarked Breaker fired past the exposed Nathaniel Brooke from ten metres.
The frustration continued for the Magpies ten minutes later as the hosts doubled their lead, a run into the box resulting in a shot past the Hahndorf custodian as he showed a little too much of his front post. Hahndorf continued to push forward but for all their possession could create few chances on goal.
In the second half, the Breakers took hold of the game and the Magpies had trouble putting their foot on the ball and stringing passes together. However, they worked their way back into the match as the Breakers dropped in intensity. The versatile Kyle Eglinton came on for Lindon and Ben Wells replaced Gowen, who had put in a fine effort.
Hahndorf pressed forward with McQueen, Eglinton and Medley putting in the hard yards and the Magpies scored with fifteen minutes remaining. Chow benefited from some excellent build up and created space just outside the area and let fly with a rocket into the Breakers net.
Medley, Wells and Craig combined fluidly at the back to deny the Breakers further chances and set up many forays forward. Jones had a great chance to equalise but found himself on his non-preferred foot after a circuitous route to goal and fired wide. It was to be the Magpies best effort as time ran out.
Medley put in another outstanding game and all players put in a great effort as the Magpies were unlucky not to get a point from the game.
Next week is a cup round with both sides at home, providing they can get enough fit players. The First team are hosting the Sunday Div. 2 team, the ISC Raptors while the Sunday Div. 1 team, the Pontian Eagles will be the Reserve Magpies prey.
