Hahndorf V Flinders University
Handing out a 5-2 drubbing, Hahndorf gave Flinders University a footballing lecture, to keep the Magpies in second place in the South Australian Amateur Soccer League 3rd Division.
On a fine autumnal afternoon, the two teams played an even opening ten minutes, Flinders getting the first sight of goal but the effort passed harmlessly over the bar of James Nicholson‟s goal. Leo Santangelo replied for Hahndorf, firing wide after a good build up through Callum Graham and Kayne Stubing.
Hahndorf found a viable alley to goal on the right flank, Steve and Aaron Noble combining to carve open the Uni defence on numerous occasions. The Magpies gained control of the midfield with Tom Holland‟s distribution the foil to the industrious work of Jack Farrimond as Hahndorf enjoyed a period of sustained pressure on the University side.
The defence of Martin Busch, Jon Lynn and Scott Taylor were never truly stretched in the early going and Hahndorf underlined their authority with a brilliant move to open the scoring. Moving out from the back, Lynn, A.Noble and Holland played a series of short passes to bring the ball into the attacking third, Holland then sliced open the defence with a terrific pass to Graham. Bearing in on goal, Graham picked his spot and gave the University 'keeper no chance with a fine finish.
Looking to double their advantage, Santangelo broke forward and his on-target shot was deflected by the goalkeeper to Stubing but he hit his effort over the bar. Flinders hit back with a sharp move but the forward could only pick out Nicholson in goal with his header. Better was to come from the visitors however and they equalised with a bullet-like free kick from outside the penalty area.
Hahndorf stormed back to regain the lead, a corner by the Magpies only half cleared when Taylor‟s effort was blocked and Stubing stepped up to fire a shot through traffic into the corner of goal. The Magpies played out the rest of the half in control, A.Noble, Holland and Graham notable with some fine touches.
Hahndorf began the second half in stirring fashion, a quick break on the left releasing Stubing and he put in a superb angled cross to Santangelo. The athletic forward made good ground to stretch out a leg and guide a half volley past the exposed 'keeper for 3-1 lead.
Hahndorf kept on top of the game with some sustained pressure, Santangelo looking for his second when he shot just wide after the Magpies had forged an opening through some excellent midfield possession. Holland and A.Noble combined to threaten the Flinders‟ goal and forced a hasty clearance by their defence, the ball launched over the tennis courts. While waited for the ball to be couriered back, Hahndorf made their first substitution, bringing on Max Edwards for A.Noble.
The University side fought back to apply some pressure to the Hahndorf defence, but Lynn, S.Noble, Taylor and Busch limited the visitors chances. The big German then underscored his versatility with a magnificent goal from distance, curling a left-footer to the top, far corner after S.Noble picked him out with a smart throw.
The Magpies made further changes, Matt Medley and Shaun Smith replacing Taylor and Holland. The substitutes may have brought immediate reward when Graham and Smith exchanged passes and crossed for Edwards, but he was unable to find the target. Santangelo maintained his strong game with a shot from distance but it too passed just wide of the goal.
Hahndorf‟s persistence paid off when Stubing added his second and the Magpies fifth, Graham curling in a free kick for Stubing to bundle over the line, a pelvic thrust putting the visitors in their own time warp. The horror show may have continued for the Uni side, with Edwards, Smith and Graham keeping them pinned deep in their own half. However, to their credit, Flinders scored a late goal, a fine header catching Hahndorf napping at a corner with minutes remaining.
Man of the match was Callum Graham, the midfield maestro orchestrating much of Hahndorf‟s attacking verve, with great support from Leo Santangelo and Kayne Stubing, their work up front a constant threat to the Uni defence. A.Noble also drew special mention for his exceptional workrate during the first half.
Hahndorf Reserves
In a reverse score line to the First team match, the Hahndorf Reserves suffered their first defeat of the season, the sometimes spiteful match seeing the hosts squander an early lead to be eventually be over-run 5-2 by the visitors.
The Magpies started brightly, with Jordan Webber, Jesse Konstantinoff and Chris Sawers putting the Uni side on the back foot. Fine support in the midfield of David Grant, Gary Ledson, Colin Hibbert and Mike „the Wanderer” Lewington gave Hahndorf the edge in possession and it was a short time before their efforts brought the first goal.
Webber beat a Uni player and put in a deep cross to Sawers who headed back across to Konstantinoff and he fought hard to bundle to ball into goal. Hahndorf maintained the attacks through Bob Edwards, the cultured central defender turning back the years with a fine through ball to Konstantinoff, but he failed to find the target. Further opportunity presented itself with Sawers just firing wide and then Konstantinoff intercepted a short goal kick, but again the second goal remained elusive with the shot going over the bar.
Flinders woke up to the danger and began to force their way into the game, Hahndorf 'keeper Luke Jones making an excellent save from a one on one chance. Kyle Eglinton and Matt Medley provided defensive support and it was the former who created Hahndorf‟s second goal. A penetrating free kick found Grant and the experienced midfielder fired in a precise volley for a two-goal lead.
The visitors hit back with their first goal soon after and Hahndorf were forced to replace an injured Grant with Alex Chapman. Flinders began to assert themselves and equalised when the Magpies failed to hold possession from a goal kick. Further insult was added just before half time when the University side went ahead 3-2 after a solo run left Jones exposed.
Hahndorf brought on “the Enforcer” Rupert Lindon to stem the tide but the trend continued after half time with the visitors going close twice. The Magpies answered through Hibbert, who just missed after Konstantinoff fought hard to maintain pressure on the Uni defence. Medley then saved a certain goal with a goal line clearance as Ben “Beninho” Wells entered the fray.
Hahndorf had two good opportunities to score but the half time oranges had not improved their shooting and it was Flinders who made the most of their chances. A period of strong Uni play resulted in the visitors‟ fourth as Hahndorf struggled to control the midfield play. Chapman made some good plays but Hahndorf were unable to find the target when it counted. Eglinton went closest, a long curling free kick hitting the crossbar with the University custodian an anxious spectator.
Flinders added salt to the wound late on with a fifth goal and with a minute remaining could have had a sixth after a bit of petulance from the Magpie keeper resulted in a free kick close in, the chance going high and wide of goal.
Best on the day was Kyle Eglinton, a solid defensive display bolstered by his free kick deliveries. Jess Konstantinoff also provided a high point with his industrious work on the front line and Chapman showed a promising future with his time on the pitch.
In other results, the Div 4 Cs fought out a tight contest to be pipped 2-1 by Flinders University and Chris Hyde got on the scoreboard in the Div 5 Cs 3-1 loss to BOSA.
Next week is a cup round with the First team hosting the Southern Breakers on Saturday and the Reserves playing away to Bosna on Sunday. The Div 5 Cs are also away to local rivals Stirling and the Div 4 Cs have the week off.
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