Hahndorf V Mt Barker
In the local derby, Hahndorf hosted Mt Barker on an overcast but fine day, the home side making the better of the play to run out 3-1 victors.
Wanting to sustain the momentum from the previous week, Hahndorf started brightly, moving the ball well and putting Mt. Barker on the back foot. Hahndorf’s attack featured Mike Lewington, John Lawler and Sam Heyward, Lewington making his senior debut after some excellent performances in the Reserves.
Supplying the forwards were Club Captain Matt Norris, industrious Ashley Oosh and the reliable Jon Lynn. Lee Stibbs, Wayne Forrester, Todd Newman and Kyle Eglinton kept the defence in order, utilising Hahndorf ‘keeper Mark McGrath as a deep sweeper.
Within ten minutes, the Magpies’ pressure paid off with Stibbs swinging in a strong corner. The Mt. Barker ‘keeper made an attempt to clear the dangerous ball but barely got a touch as it curled straight into the net. The delight of Hahndorf was contrasted by the dismay of Mt. Barker, the visitors taking some time to get back into the match.
However, Mt. Barker pressed forward and put in some shots but they were either off target or did little to trouble the Magpie ‘keeper. Norris was dominating the midfield, his attack on the ball and distribution giving Lewington and Heyward opportunities to add to the score. Oosh and Lynn were disrupting the movement of the visitors while Newman and Forrester strongly repelled any openings Mt. Barker created.
Norris capped off a fine half, finding Lynn with a pinpoint cross and he hit a sweet drive with his left, the ball just passing the wrong side of the post. Hahndorf went into the break in a comfortable position but looking to increase their lead.
The Magpies started the second stanza like the first and soon had a number of chances, Lawler testing the Mt. Barker ‘keeper with a top corner free kick. Norris also tried his luck from distance, his free just going wide as Hahndorf kept up the pressure.
However, the visitors replied with some sustained attacks but Newman and the wily veteran, Forrester were solid at the back, with Eglinton and Stibbs also chiming in with some timely tackles.
With the game drifting towards a Hahndorf win, Coach Steve Handley brought on Brendan Kilpatrick for the hardworking Heyward. The Magpies were forced to make a second change minutes later when the Norris and an opponent had a clash of heads, the combative captain winning the ball and seven stitches for his effort. He was replaced by Stuart Thomas, “El Presidente” slotting into the midfield role.
Kilpatrick put the ‘keeper under pressure with a well struck shot and Lewington continued to harass the defence with Oosh also trying his luck with an optimistic volley from distance. However it was apiece of “Wimbledon route one” football that put Hahndorf 2-0 up. McGrath launched a clearance and with Lewington and Lawler chasing and putting on the pressure, the Mt. Barker defender unfortunately headed past his own ‘keeper.
Soon after, Kilpatrick added a third with his head, the goal rounding off a sustained attack by the Magpies as full time loomed. To their credit, Mt Barker kept trying to breech the Hahndorf defence and finally succeeded late in the game, a solo run resulting in a score for the visitors. With minutes remaining they could have added a second but wasted a golden opportunity when Hahndorf were already thinking of the beer after the game.
In a great team effort, Man of the match was inspirational captain Norris, a ball winning powerhouse in midfield, and solid contributions from Forrester and Lewington were pivotal in Hahndorf’s third win from four games.
Reserves
Hahndorf Reserves paid dearly for their wasted opportunities as a young and eager Mt. Barker side gave the hosts a bath, scoring 5 goals to no reply and cementing their spot at the top of the table.
Hahndorf were aware of their young opponents good form this season and building on last weeks game the hosts started well. Nathaniel Brooke took his spot between the sticks, and before him a defensive unit of Ben Wells, Matt Medley, Andy Craig and the “Italian Maestro”, Edmondo Palombo kept the visitors under control.
Midfielders Lachlan ‘the Albino Yeti” McQueen, Gary Ledson, Andrew Kenny and “the Black Pearl” Owen Boyce moved the ball around well and Hahndorf had the better chances in the first fifteen minutes. Chris Hyde had two good chances at opening the scoring, one shot hitting the crossbar and the other missing to the near post. Fellow striker Tyrone Blunt featured in some moves but Hahndorf failed to capitalise on their possession.
Mt. Barker took full advantage, working the angles to get clear on goal and finishing well to go 1-0 up. Hahndorf put the goal behind them and again took hold of the midfield but further shots went wide or scraped past the post. The visitors again took advantage with two goals in quick succession, both opportunistic shots from distance that dipped under the bar with Brooke beaten.
Going into halftime 3-0 down, Hahndorf were a little shell shocked but believed they still had the passing game to get back into the match. However within five minutes of the restart, Mt. Barker had a fourth, their quick forwards springing free to finish well from close range.
A frustrated Hahndorf continued to build in attack but it was not to be their afternoon, several shots hitting the bar and post as they made good chances but could not capitalise. Substitutes Luke Jones and Kieran Evans helped push the Magpies forward but the final pass or shot was wasted by the increasingly desperate Hahndorf side.
Their match was summed up with fifteen minutes to go, as Hahndorf’s defence moved forward to take what they thought was their free kick. However, a belated decision gave the kick to Mt. Barker and they played on quickly to open up a one on one chance that the young Barker forward took well, slotting past the advancing Brooke.
Best for the Magpies was the ‘Italian Maestro”, Palombo giving all on a testing day. The loss was a bitter one for the Magpies and they will look to atone for the embarrassing loss next week.
In round six, Hahndorf are looking to maintain their winning form and will visit the undefeated Burundi Eagles, a test that could shape the remainder of the season.
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