Round 9: Hahndorf V Flinders University

Hahndorf V Flinders University

The Magpies hosted Flinders University for the 9th round of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League, looking to keep the pressure on the three sides above them. However, Hahndorf failed to take their opportunities and found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-0 score line.

Todd Newman, Lee Stibbs and the wily fox, Wayne Forrester, lined up with Club Captain Matt Norris in defence, keen to repeat last weeks clean sheet with Mark McGrath in goal. Steve Noble returned from injury to take a place in midfield alongside Ash Oosh, Shaun Smith and the reliable Jon Lynn.

Up front, the experienced David Grant paired with Mike Lewington as both teams tested each other from the start. Several crunching tackles from both sides showed this was going to be a constant battle and the referee stepped in with a couple of cautions early to settle the teams down.

In the first half an hour the play was mainly in the Flinders half, the Magpies pressuring through Oosh, Noble and Grant to have the visitors on the back foot. Lewington had several opportunities to open the scoring, Forrester finding Grant from the back and Grant putting Lewington through on goal, but the shot was blocked by the Flinders defence.

Flinders also had some chances but with their aim also astray, McGrath was not troubled. Norris made a run forward and let rip with an ambitious attempt to score, but the shot passed just to the left of goal. Lynn and Forrester battled hard for the ball as Hahndorf tried to find an opening in the visitors defence. Often the Magpies would make good progress to the edge of the Flinders penalty area but then play would break down.

Flinders wrested back some of the initiative from Hahndorf late in the half and started to created more chances for themselves. A sharp through ball, forced McGrath into a rushed clearance and Flinders took full advantage, opening the scoring from the throw, minutes from half time.

After the break Hahndorf, battled to get into the game, Lynn and Newman prominent with Norris as the Magpies set about restoring parity. Both teams were up for the points but Flinders appeared to want it slightly more, getting to the ball before the Magpies on several occasions.

This was exemplified when Flinders scored their second, a late run at the near post getting a flashing header past McGrath after some good play by the visitors. However, Hahndorf continued to create and Lewington had two good opportunities to score, the best a one-on-one chance that the big forward hit over the crossbar when clear through on goal. The Magpies made a couple of substitutions, bringing on John Lawler and Brendan Kilpatrick for Oosh and Smith.

Kilpatrick continued his bustling form from the Reserves game and connected with cracking header from a corner that smashed into the crossbar and away to safety. The effort was to sum up the day for Hahndorf, battling well in the game and putting together some great moves but unable to get shots on target.

The Magpies fought to the end but ultimately could not find the combination to unlock the Flinders defence as time ran out. Best on the Day was the reliable Jon Lynn, with captain Matt Norris and Todd Newman putting in solid performances. The result leaves the Magpies in fourth position in the league and they will need to pick up points on the teams above them to have a chance at promotion.


Reserves

The Hahndorf Reserves rallied from being two goals down late in the game to share the points in a 3-3 draw.

Nathaniel Brooke took his usual spot between the sticks as Hahndorf’s defence of Matt Medley, Andy Craig, Stuart Thomas and the” Italian Maestro” Edmondo Palombo found themselves under pressure early on.

Despite a star-studded midfield of Rupert Lindon, Tyrone Blunt, Gary Ledson and the “Black Pearl” Owen Boyce, the Magpies lacked cohesion and Flinders pushed forward at every opportunity. Forwards Brendan Kilpatrick and Chris Hyde worked hard for possession as Hahndorf struggled to find their rhythm and had few sights on goal.

Flinders opened the scoring with a well-taken shot that gave Brooke no chance, the opposition forward unpicking the Hahndorf defence. Down a goal the Magpies slowly dragged their play up to standard and began to push the ball around and create some chances of their own.

Ledson and Blunt worked the engine room of the midfield and linked with Hyde, the experienced forward laying off short passes as Hahndorf’s confidence grew. With minutes remaining in the half, Boyce split the Flinders defence with a precision ball to Ledson and he strode into the penalty area with only the ‘keeper to beat. Ledson had the Flinders custodian grasping at air as he shimmied his way past and stroked the ball into the empty net.

Emerging from the half time break at 1-1, Hahndorf felt they were back in the game and passed the ball well. Lindon and Boyce worked the flanks and Hyde dropped deeper to pick up the ball. However, the Magpies could not get a sight on goal and paid the price when a high ball from Flinders let in their forward who smashed a shot past Brooke.

Luke Jones was brought on for Kilpatrick and later an injury to Lindon resulted in Josh Watson taking to the field. Boyce also made way for the “Albino Yeti”, Lachlan McQueen, the enthusiastic substitute keen to get into the action. Hahndorf pushed for an equaliser but again they were punished when a slip in the back line gave Flinders a third goal.

With twenty minutes remaining, Hahndorf still had belief and a corner by Jones brought reward, Craig putting in a header that Hyde cleverly deflected past the Flinders ‘keeper. The intensity lifted as the Magpies went searching for a third score, the team pushing forward at every opportunity. The pressure built and after a series of Magpie corners the ball was forced into the net, a stab by Ledson wrong-footing most players and Blunt seeming to get a toe on it before it went it.

With five minutes remaining both teams threw everything at getting the winning goal but time was to prevent any further addition to the score. Best on the day was Gary Ledson with two goals and an industrious battle in midfield, and another who played well was Brendan Kilpatrick, showing intensity for the ball. The result leaves the Hahndorf Reserves in fifth spot on the table but only six points from the top midway through the season.

Next week, the Magpies are again at home for the visit of Adelaide University, sure to be another tightly fought contest with all teams competitive this year. Hahndorf players will be donning yellow armbands in their match against Adelaide University on Saturday in support of Cancer Council SA’s Call to Arms campaign.

Call To Arms is Cancer Council’s annual national event to raise funds and awareness of men’s cancers.

Sporting clubs are invited to participate by nominating a day in July to hold a Call To Arms match where players wear a yellow armband in a show of support to men who have survived cancer, those currently facing the cancer fight and to remember mates who have lost their lives to cancer.

Funds raised will help prevent and detect cancers in men, find new treatments, as well as support men in need by funding the Cancer Council’s important cancer research, education and support programs.