Hahndorf V ACU Falcons
Hahndorf began their 2010 South Australian Amateur Soccer League campaign in fine form, scoring a 4-2 win over Division Three new comers ACU Falcons.
In a pulsating encounter, the Hahndorf Magpies found it difficult to break down the visitors defence and were denied a number of scoring chances despite controlling much of the play.
Nathaniel Brooke took the number one custodian position, with Matt Norris, Martin Busch and Scott Taylor the primary defenders and they matched up well against the Falcons’ forwards.
The Hahndorf midfield was a hive of activity, with Dave Grant, Jack Farrimond, Mike Lewington, Aaron Noble and Callum Graham dictating play. Leo Santangelo and Kayne Stubing kept the visitors on the back foot with some driving attacks, but the first twenty-five minutes brought no reward for the Magpie team.
Grant and Stubing combined to free Graham and his blistering effort forced the Falcons’ ‘keeper to tip the shot over the bar. Santangelo then had two successive goal opportunities, the second finding the crossbar from a sharp angle.
Graham was the driving force in the midfield, and was rewarded with the opening score. Hahndorf laid siege to the Falcons’ goal, with numerous shots blocked by the visiting defence, before Graham slotted in from close range.
The Magpies could have doubled their lead soon after, a rasping shot by Noble hitting the bar after he exchanged passes with Grant. However it was the Falcons who struck next, a neat turn exposing Brooke and he had no chance against the well placed shot, the half ending at 1-1.
Hahndorf soon wrested back the initiative early in the second half, Stubing getting on the end of a well delivered free kick and heading past the ‘keeper. The Magpies then enjoyed a period of control, Busch and Norris dealing with the Falcons’ forwards and the industrious Farrimond and Graham holding the middle.
Max Edwards replaced Grant, and the home side looked to increase the pressure on the visitors. A well worked move forced the best out of the Falcons’ custodian after the Magpies turned defence into attack from a Falcons’ corner.
Soon after, a sweeping move by Hahndorf gave them their deserved reward, a cross field ball by Taylor picking out Edwards and he found Stubing out wide. The speedy forward put in a cross for Santangelo to volley home, the fine strike eluding the defence. At 3-1, the Hahndorf Magpies looked comfortable and brought on Matt Medley for Taylor as the home team searched for more goals. Busch’s pass put Medley into space and his cross found Santangelo’s head and drew a good save from the Falcons’ ‘keeper.
The Falcons then began to influence the play and put Hahndorf under a period of pressure, however Busch and Norris were on hand to prevent a score by the visitors. In the final fifteen minutes, Chris Sawers replaced Noble and he made an immediate impact, getting on the end of Stubing’s flick and driving in the shot for a 4-1 score.
Soon after, Sawers was at the other end of the pitch, clearing off the line when the Falcons threatened the Magpie goal. To their credit, the visitors fought to the end and did find a second goal after Brooke blocked a fierce shot, the rebound returned with interest into the top corner.
The final minutes saw Farrimond attempt a quick free kick, but his enthusiasm only drew concern from the koalas as the shot sailed well over the bar. Stubing had a good one on one opportunity but the Falcons’ ‘keeper made a great save to deny the goal.
In an encouraging start to the league season, the Hahndorf Magpies took the three points, putting on an impressive effort and could have added more goals but for some desperate defence by the Falcons. Best on the day was Busch, the big German leading the defence by example, with Graham also outstanding in a dominant midfield aided by the hard working Farrimond.
Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves put on a convincing display in their 7-0 demolition of the ACU Falcons, four goals to Tom Holland and a brace to Jesse Konstantinoff ensuring the three points went to the Hills team.
The match got off to a frantic start, with both teams a bit skittish in the opening ten minutes of the league season and turning over the ball with regularity. The Falcons pushed forward with purpose but the defence of Kyle Eglinton, Luke Guest and Matt Medley ensured that Magpies ‘keeper James Nicholson had few shots to contend with. Guest was particularly prevalent in shutting down the Falcons forward forays.
Settling into the match, the Magpie midfield began to assert themselves with Shaun Smith, John Lynn, Tom Holland, Gary Ledson and Colin Hibbert dictating the pace of the match. Forwards Jordan Webber and Jesse Konstantinoff looked busy in attack and the latter had a good shot blocked by the Falcons’ custodian. The ball fell to Hibbert who hit a tremendous drive only for the ball to crash into the underside of the bar and Lynn’s follow up passed over the goal.
However, Hahndorf broke the deadlock with Konstantinoff getting in a good position the feed Holland, who made no mistake from fifteen metres. The Magpies followed up with a second soon after, Holland again the scorer, gliding past the defence before deceiving the ‘keeper with a low shot into the corner.
Smith sustained an injury and was replaced by Owen “The Black Pearl” Boyce, as the Falcons tried to mount a challenge before the end of the half, but Nicholson and Guest denied them any chance.
Hahndorf added a third goal minutes into the second half, Lynn crossing for Konstantinoff and his sliced shot fell to Boyce who converted the simple header. Hahndorf added a fourth quickly when Konstantinoff found his range, a bullet header giving the visitors no chance after a fine cross from Lynn.
With the Magpies in control, Holland brought up his hat-trick in tremendous style. Hahndorf moved the ball with fluidity from defence through midfield to the top of the penalty area before finding Holland with space and he hit a sweet, low drive that arrowed into the corner of the net.
The Falcons’ heads dropped further when Konstantinoff added his second, the visitors in disarray in defence and the hard working forward taking full toll. With the Falcons reeling, Hahndorf put in their seventh, Holland playing a short corner and curling in a high ball that found the top corner of the goal.
It was a great result for the Reserves after battling hard for the opening quarter of an hour and the coaching staff were extremely pleased with the style of play and the good start to the season. Best on the day was Guest, a rock in defence early on and dictating the play from the back. Konstantinoff with two goals was also prominent for his industrious work rate and Holland put on a finishing clinic with his four strikes and midfield performance.
In other results, the Division 4 Cs found the away fixture to Brahma Lodge a tough one, going down 9-1 in a fighting display. In an exciting trial game, the Division 5 Cs conceded a couple of late goals to be the wrong side of a 5-4 score line against Sturt Marion.
Next week the Hahndorf Magpies travel to Grange to face the Adelaide Monarchs, and the Div 4 Social Cs take on Hazara at Woodville.
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