Round 15: Mt Barker V Hahndorf

Mt Barker V Hahndorf

Hahndorf completed a comfortable win over local rivals Mt Barker, the 4-0 result giving the Magpies a victorious clean sweep in both meetings this season.

The Hahndorf Magpies took little time to settle into the local derby, intent on attack from the outset and making good use of the space available on the large pitch. Forwards Leo Santangelo and Tom Holland put the Mt Barker defence under pressure with Hahndorf’s midfield of Aaron Noble, Jack Farrimond, Kayne Stubing and Dan Hermel dominating from the opening whistle.

The slick, even surface was conducive to the visitors’ quick passing game and they soon took the lead through Santangelo. Out on the flank, Stubing eluded his marker and put in a centring pass to Holland who set up Sanangelo with a neat layoff. The tall forward needed no second invitation and coolly slotted in the goal to get Hahndorf off to a great start.

Magpie custodian Luke Guest had a few Mt Barker attacks to contend with but a formidable defence containing Jon Lynn, Matt Norris, Scott Taylor and Steve Noble were well on top of the host’s forays forward. Mt Barker were under constant pressure from their local rivals and it wasn’t long before Hahndorf had doubled their lead, A.Noble with a precision finish after Stubing tormented the hosts with a fine cross.

Hahndorf kept up their attack, the midfield battle dominated by the engine of Farrimond and ingenuity of A.Noble with Stubing and Hermel exploiting the spacious flanks and finding Sanangelo and Holland. Hahndorf were patient with the ball, prepared to build from the back and switch play across the defensive line.

The Magpies’ endeavour paid off with the third goal of the match. Stubing again sent in a cross into the penalty box and it was poorly dealt with by Mt Barker, leaving Hermel to smash in the goal from close range. Hahndorf should have added more to their score but a combination of errant shooting and a couple of fine saves by the home ’keeper maintained the 3-0 score line at half time.

The visitors began the second half in the same vein as they left the first, the wingers of Hahndorf asking plenty of questions of the Mt Barker defence. Stubing was a constant threat with his pace and quality of delivery, Hahndorf unable to capitalise on a searching ball that slid across the face of goal.

The Magpie defence was rarely under much pressure, Guest playing as much as a deep sweeper as a goalkeeper with Taylor and Norris solid in the middle. As the half developed, Hahndorf maintained an attacking presence, largely pinning Mt Barker in their own half but unable to prise the home side open.

Holland was a busy figure up forward and set up Stubing with a clever short pass but while Stubing’s shot was true, the Mt Barker ‘keeper made a fine diving save to deny a certain score. Santangelo sent a tantalising pass across goal and it just needed the slightest of touches to send it goal-bound, but Hahndorf were unable to lay a boot on it.

Mt Barker applied some possession forward and almost caught out the Magpies but several attempts failed to find the target and Hahndorf regrouped to fortify their rearguard. Believing the best form of defence is attack, the Magpies moved forward with a combination of passes and possession before a clever through ball found Stubing who had ghosted in behind the defence. Advancing on the ‘keeper, Stubing picked his side and slotted home Hahndorf’s fourth goal.

Jordan Webber was brought on; his direct approach another threat for the hosts to contend with. Hahndorf kept attacking, with Lynn almost adding goal of the day with the match in the final ten minutes. With Hahndorf pressing for goal a half clearance fell to club stalwart Lynn and he hit a rasping half volley from 30 metres that crashed off the corner of bar and post.

Several other opportunities fell to Hahndorf but the visitors had to settle for the four-goal win by the final whistle. Man of the Match was Kayne Stubing, the speedster having had a hand in three of the goals before putting on of his own.


Reserves

The Hahndorf Reserves ran out 5-1 winners against an outclassed Mt Barker unit, the win keeping the Magpies in second spot on the ladder.

Glorious sunshine interspersed with the occasional cloud set the scene at Cornerstone College, the two combatant teams eager to gain victory in the local derby. Hahndorf stared brightly, a few exploratory shots looking to find the range and test out the Mt Barker goalkeeper.

The Magpies started Nathaniel Brooke in goal with a defensive line containing Matt Medley, Luke Guest, Ash Parr and Rupert ‘The Enforcer’ Lindon. They looked to bring the ball to a dynamic midfield of Kyle Eglinton, David Grant, Sam Wood and Mike Lewington.

Starting positively, the Magpies adjusted to the slick pitch quickly and soon had Mt Barker on their heels, forwards Max Gordon-Edwards and Jordan Webber closing in on goal but unable to find the opening score. Parr intercepted a Mt Barker clearance to burst forward on the wing and he struck a fierce shot from distance. The ball cannoned off the crossbar and fell to Webber, but the usually accurate forward poked the ball wide. Soon after Lewington was denied from a corner, his header saved on the line by the home ‘keeper.

Hahndorf were fairly well in control of the game but found the final ball elusive, poor shot selection and some stray passes in the final third of the pitch frustrating their efforts. Grant got on the end of a good move but could not find the target. However Hahndorf eventually broke through, a fine corner met with a diving header by Guest and the ball went flying into the Mt Barker net.

The Magpies followed the goal up with some neat build up play before Webber shot directly at the ‘keeper and soon after Gordon Edwards also squandered a chance. Webber regrouped with Hahndorf’s second, a fine cross giving the silent assassin a bullet header from the edge of the 6-yard box.

At 2 nil up, Hahndorf looked to be in control of the match but the home team restored some hope with a converted penalty to make the score 2-1 at half time.

After the break Hahndorf continued to waste their opportunities, Gordon-Edwards and Webber getting in great positions but unable to finish off the good moves. Wood was having a sterling match in midfield and it was his hard work that set up Webber’s second goal, an insightful pass to the rampant forward giving him the chance to tap the ball past the advancing ‘keeper and into the net.

Wood was once again provider soon after, a surgical pass slicing open the Mt Barker defence to find Webber and he made no mistake, holding his composure to slot the ball into the corner of the net and bring up his hat trick. The Magpies found themselves 4-1 up but in truth they could have easily doubled that score but for their profligate finishing.

Jesse Konstantinoff and Gary Ledson entered the match as Hahndorf continued to keep Mt Barker pinned in their own half but the Magpies found the back of the net a harder proposition. Shots from the visitors continued to threaten the Mt Barker goal but for all their dominance, the Magpies struggled to make it count.

Ledson received a good pass from Wood to force a fine save from the home ‘keeper as Hahndorf kept the attacking pressure on Mt Barker. Wood capped off a Man of the Match performance with the final goal, a fine header finding the net after Konstantinoff delivered a pin point cross to the hard working midfielder.

The 5-1 result was a good win for the Hahndorf team, a dominant performance keeping them at the sharp end of the table.

Super Cs

The Div 4 Cs travelled to Greenock, the trip racking up the frequent flyer points but while the team contested well, it was not enough to prevent a 2-0 loss.

The Div 5 Cs had a shorter trip to Sturt Marion but the result was the same, a 2-0 win for the home side, despite stand in custodian Edmondo Palombo doing his best Dino Zoff impersonation.

Next week Hahndorf are at their Pine Avenue home to take on League leaders USC Lion in a potentially season defining match for the Magpies. The Div 4 Cs hosts the Redblue Eagles at Mylor while the Div 5 Cs are at home to the Modbury Jets.