A New Season: Magpies off to a winning start

Hahndorf off to a winning start

Hahndorf began their 2010 season with a 1-0 win over Flinders University in the preliminary round of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League Challenge Cup.

With the two teams also league rivals this year, the match was expected to be close, although the opening salvos put the Magpies on the back foot. Hahndorf suffered the first blow when Ash Parr had to be substituted following a crunching tackle and was replaced by Martin Busch, the big German making his official debut for the club.

Hahndorf reorganised themselves to match Flinders’ five man midfield, Matt Norris, Busch and Scott Taylor anchoring the defence behind Matt Medley, David Grant, Callum Graham, Jack Farrimond and Jordan Webber. Max Edwards and Kayne Stubing provided the striking power however Hahndorf were guilty of missing several clear chances to find the net during the first half. Hahndorf’s ‘keeper, Nathaniel Brooke ensured the misses weren’t costly, making a fine save to deny the visitors.

The match developed into an even affair, both sides looking to gain the upper hand but chances went astray as the respective defences did enough to keep parity at half time.

The Magpies lifted their game during the second stanza, Graham, Norris and Stubing leading by example as Hahndorf searched for a goal. Grant chased and harassed a defender to steal the ball but failed to get a meaningful shot away and the hosts were denied a couple of penalty appeals as the pressure mounted on the University side.

Farrimond almost broke the deadlock and the back of the net with a ferocious shot from just outside the area but the Flinders’ keeper threw himself full length to deflect the ball. A short rain shower greased the pitch and a few willing tackles entered to game as time drew on and the intensity lifted.

Brooke made several smart saves to keep Hahndorf’s sheet clean and was fortuitously aided by a disallowed goal, the University side scoring directly from an indirect free kick. The Magpies replied almost immediately, Graham putting in a searching shot after some excellent passing and a patient build up by the home team.

However, it was a long clearance by Brooke that led to Hahndorf taking the lead, Stubing swooping on the ball and unloading a rocket from long range to find the net. The stunning strike was just reward for the speedy forward, his endeavour a feature of the match. Graham almost doubled the advantage soon after, combining with Farrimond but just shooting wide of the mark.

Flinders University battled hard to find an equaliser and had the Magpies under pressure for many of the final minutes but some fine defending by Norris, Busch and Taylor kept the goal cupboard bare for the visitors.

The win was a great way for Hahndorf to kick off the season and get an early advantage over their league rivals. The 2010 edition of the Hahndorf Magpies includes a number of new faces, the club recruiting well during the off-season and the first serious game gave a glimpse a promising year.

Best on the day was Stubing, his strike a winner in any league, with the industrious Graham and impervious Norris also putting in fine performances.

Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves met league rivals Murray Bridge for their preliminary cup match and the Magpies put in an assured display to run out 3-1 winners. Playing at the riverside venue, the Magpies pushed the ball around well in the opening sequences to dominate possession but had trouble putting a score on the board.

Forwards Jesse Konstantinoff and Chris Hyde were busy early, getting good service from the midfield of Owen “The Black Pearl” Boyce, Colin Hibbert, Leo Santangelo and Jonathon Wirth. Konstantinoff was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when the goalkeeper flattened him and a number of late tackles by the home team inflamed the visiting coaching staff on the sideline.

However, Hahndorf took the initiative as Andy Craig played a quick free kick to Wirth who raced down the wing before centring to Konstantinoff. The young striker flicked on to Hyde at the back post and the experienced forward had an easy tap in to put Hahndorf in front.

In defence, the Magpies held the Murray Bridge side to few chances, custodian James Nicholson keeping out any shots during the half as the youthful defence of Stuart Thomas, Craig, Bob Edwards and Kyle Eglinton made the hosts work hard for their opportunities.

During half time, Hahndorf made a few changes, bringing on Tim Staniford, Jake Verrall and Shaun Beham as the Magpies looked to retain control of the match. Hahndorf continued to create chances but could not find a second goal and paid the price for their profligacy when Murray Bridge equalised with a well-taken free kick with twenty-five minutes remaining.

The score galvanised the visitors and they responded with a series of attacks, Hibbert unleashing a thunderbolt that drew a full-length dive from the Bridge ‘keeper to deny the goal. However soon after, Santangelo capped a fine display with a surging run from halfway, exchanging one-twos with several Magpie players before finding the corner of the net with a scorching shot from the edge of the area.

Ten minutes from time, Hahndorf made sure of the result with their third goal, Konstantinoff rewarded for a terrific game, getting on the end of a good ball from Verrall, a clever pass from Edwards opening up the home defence.

The result was a fair reflection of the game and Hahndorf put together some fine flowing passes and possession soccer that should reward them in the coming season. Best on the day was the energetic Konstantinoff, followed by the hardworking Hibbert and the resolute Eglington.


The super C’s
The Super C’s continue to build towards the start of the season that begins on the 1st of May. Several trial games have given the “Italian Maestro”, player-coach Edmondo Palombo, reason to believe the team will be very competitive this season.