McLaren District V Hahndorf
A inspired last twenty minutes by Hahndorf saw them defeat McLaren District 2-1 in the13th round of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League 3rd Division.
The Hahndorf Magpies travelled to the Southern Vales looking to build some momentum as they entered the last third of the season. With several players returning to the squad from injury and illness, the Magpies fielded one of their stronger line-ups for the season.
Nathaniel Brooke took his spot between the sticks, with defenders Lee Stibbs, Steve Noble, Todd Newman and the wily fox Wayne Forrester in front of him. Hahndorf put the reliable Jon Lynn in midfield along with Mike Lewington and the gladiatorial Ash Oosh. The Magpies opted for three frontrunners, enlisting young Kayne Stubing to join John Lawler and David Grant in the pursuit of goals.
However it was Mclaren District, going with the stiff breeze and slight slope, that pushed Hahndorf back in their own half for much of the first thirty minutes. Adjusting to their new formation, Hahndorf had trouble linking their passes and constructing an attacking plan.
However the Magpies slowly worked into the match but had to rely on Brooke on occasions to keep the match at parity, the big ‘keeper making two crucial saves to deny what looked to be certain goals.
Oosh and Lewington battled hard in the midfield while Newman and Forrester were solid at the back. Hard man Noble was doing his best to inject some fight into the game via some crunching tackles but it was McLaren District who took the initiative. Five minutes from half time, District opened their account, the home player scoring from a sharp header from a well-placed corner.
The goal did little to improve the mood of the Magpies and at half time coach Steve Handley worked on getting Hahndorf into the ascendancy. When the match resumed, Brooke continued to defend his goal well with some sharp saves and Hahndorf began to carry their possession forward with purpose.
Lynn nearly had Hahndorf on the board with a scorching effort from thirty metres that crashed into the underside of the bar and bounced away to safety. The Magpies followed that up with a free kick but Stibbs could only find the ‘keeper with the chance. Hahndorf began to get on top of the match and Lawler went close when he shot over the bar.
Hahndorf were forced into a substitution when Lynn took a hit to the forehead during a challenge and required a fair amount of bandaging and revived memories of Peter Rathjen’s mummification from Hahndorf’s earlier days. The “Black Pearl, Owen Boyce replaced Lynn and soon after Jack Farrimond also entered the fray.
The Magpies were slowly getting a grip on the match but had few clear chances as they entered the final twenty-five minutes. Hahndorf put Tyrone Blunt on for Grant as both sides battled to get the next score. Farrimond showed his intent with a blazing volley that sizzled over the bar. McLaren District neglected to heed the warning and Hahndorf were soon on level terms when Farrimond found the target with his second effort. The Magpies played a short corner to Blunt and the ball was arrowed to the melee of player in the six-yard box. It fell to Farrimond who needed no invitation to fire it into the net.
The goal set up an intense final fifteen minutes and McLaren Vale threw themselves forward to regain their lead. The Magpies were sturdy in defence, reliable Newman solid in winning the ball and putting Hahndorf into attack. They kept the pressure on the home side and held possession in the McLaren District half but could not find a winning shot at goal as the minutes ebbed away.
In a last foray forward, a long throw to the six-yard box by Blunt was not cleared well by the home side. It fell to Stubing and the young striker made space for himself before lashing home the winner to Hahndorf’s delight. The match had barely restarted when the referee blew for full time and triggered jubilant scenes amongst the players and travelling faithful.
Hahndorf battled hard to get over a resilient Maclaren District and the Magpies will hope to carry their momentum into next week. Best players on the day were Stubing, his timely strike getting the three points and Brooke, who has been a tenacious force in goal recently.
Reserves
In a high scoring affair, the Hahndorf Reserves put in a dominant display before letting McLaren District into the game late in the match. However, it was a case of too little, too late as the Magpies ran out convincing 6-3 winners.
James Nicholson started in goal once again for the reserves with young Josh Watson gaining a start along side veterans Andy Craig, Stuart Thomas and “the Italian Maestro” Edmondo Palombo. Hahndorf started well, pushing the ball around and engaging the midfield talents of Kyle Eglinton, Tyrone Blunt, Gary Ledson and the Black Pearl, Owen Boyce.
Chris Hyde and Brendan Kilpatrick patrolled the forward domain and linked well with the midfield to put Hahndorf on the front foot. In the first twenty minutes the Mclaren players pushed forward but the Magpies defence played the ball out of danger with control. It wasn’t long before a series of passes through Palombo, Blunt, Boyce and Hyde brought about the first goal, Boyce marauding down the flank and picking out Hyde with his cross and the experienced forward slotting the ball into the corner of the net.
Hahndorf continued to play an entertaining game and soon added a second, Hyde on the end of a through ball from Watson and beating the ‘keeper with a well placed shot. The Magpies rounded off a good half with Thomas latching on to a long corner and drilling into the net from an acute angle for a 3-0 lead.
The Magpies made several substitutions around half time, Matt Medley, Rupert Lindon and Ben Wells coming on within five minutes. The Magpies continued to push forward and create opportunities but often the shots went wide or over the target. However Hahndorf were soon back on track through some excellent persistence by Kilpatrick, winning the ball and firing in a pin-point left foot cross to Blunt who made no mistake close in.
Hahndorf had the game well in control, however McLaren resorted to throwing more men forward and putting pressure on the Hahndorf defence but surrendering their midfield to the visitors. Several quick clearances nearly had the Magpies in trouble and on one occasion, Nicholson made a brilliant save to deny the hosts.
Hahndorf could have had a fifth goal when a long throw appeared to skim off the ’keepers hands before going into the net but it was disallowed. Then Hyde had a shot that missed everything and went out for a throw, drawing ironic cheers from the sidelines. However the experienced forward had the last laugh, heading in from a well-delivered long throw from Blunt to bring up his hat-trick.
At 5-0 Hahndorf went to sleep a bit a let McLaren into the match and they scored two goals in quick succession. The Magpies hit back with a sixth, Blunt put through and beating the ‘keeper to the ball as he poked it past to make it 6-2.
With the match almost at an end, Hahndorf let their guard down once again and a good goal by the hosts put the final score at an entertaining 6-3. Best on the ground for the Magpies were Hyde, his hat-trick a highlight, Blunt with two gaols and long bomb throws, and also Ledson, the diesel of the midfield.
Next week both teams will be looking to hold their winning form when they visit Mt Barker for the second leg of the local derby. With local bragging rights on the line it should make for two closely contested matches.
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