Round 15: Hahndorf V Adelaide University

Hahndorf V Adelaide Uni

In a high scoring affair, league leaders Adelaide University punished early mistakes by the Hahndorf Magpies to eventually run out 3-7 winners in the 15th round of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League 2nd Division.

Adelaide University went into their clash against Hahndorf needing a win to guarantee a promotion spot to the Premier Division and they got off to a perfect start, opening the scoring after a few minutes. Hahndorf ‘keeper Nathaniel Brooke misread a back-pass and picked up the ball to concede a free kick well inside the area. With all the team lined up on the goal line, the Magpies repelled the initial shot and the following rebound but a third strike at goal took the aerial route and found the top corner from twenty metres.

Hahndorf handicapped themselves further five minutes later when Andy Craig lost possession in defence and the University forwards pounced to advance, outnumbering the ‘keeper, they slotted the ball past the stranded Brooke. The Hahndorf defence, comprised of Craig, Ash Parr, Angus Hambrook and a Scott Schubert, was a new combination and they took time to adjust to the movement and speed of the Adelaide outfit. Steve Ness and Dan Hermel worked hard in heart of the midfield and tried to release wide men Jordan Webber and Tom Holland, however the University countered with some slick passes and movement to breech the Hahndorf goal for a third time before the twenty-five minute mark.

Hahndorf managed to construct some sweeping moves forward, Matt Norris the principle target with Kayne Stubing looking to get behind the Adelaide defenders. The Magpies created several chances, using the wings to good effect and getting some shots on the opposition goal. Unfortunately for the Magpies, they conceded a penalty just before half time and after the Adelaide side converted the spot kick, the home team went into the break trailing by four goals.

Upon the resumption of play, Hahndorf resolved to put a better account of themselves and did start to match Adelaide University across the park. Hermel and Ness continued to do the hard graft in the middle while Norris was a dominant presence in the forward line. Holland stayed wide and combined with Parr and Stubing to have Hahndorf stretching University wide.

The flanks offered Hahndorf the best avenue to goal and it was via this route that the Magpies grabbed a goal back, a cross leading to an errant handball in the area due to Norris and Webber’s pressure. Norris took the spot kick and placed it neatly in the corner before the referee asked for the kick to be retaken. The captain responded well by smashing his second effort into the opposite side of goal to get Hahndorf on the board.

The Magpies doubled their tally soon after, Holland releasing Stubing wide and the speedy attacker raced down the flank to deliver a fine cross. Norris timed his run perfectly to elude his marker and headed the ball over the advancing ‘keeper to make it 2-4. Two goals in quick succession put life into the match and the intensity lifted as Hahndorf sniffed an unlikely chance to reel in their opposition. However, after weathering a series of Magpie attacks, the University side responded with a fifth goal, the forwards again finding a loose player close to goal.

The two teams continued to engage in the thrust and parry of the second half and University converted a good chance on goal for a 2-6 score line. Hahndorf took stock and once again looked to the flanks to deliver the goods. Switching play from the back, the Magpies advanced down the wing and another Stubing cross had Norris and Ness contesting for the ball in the penalty area. The ball was scrambled to the edge of the box where Hermel pounced to drive a shot past the crowd of players and find the corner of the net.

The plethora of goals was not quite finished however and with both teams tiring, it was Adelaide University who managed to squeeze in one more for the day, a neat series of passes ending in a tap in from metres out to round out the scoring at 3-7. Matt Norris was peerless in earning the Man of the match honours, with Scott Schubert and Dan Hermel making strong contributions.

While the Magpies were disappointing in the first half, they put in a much improved second stanza and will be encouraged by their form on the attack. The return of some key players will bolster the defence in the coming weeks with a couple of crucial matches coming up after a week off due to the quarter finals of the Cup competition.


Reserves

The Hahndorf Reserves put in a brave effort against the table topping Adelaide University Reserves, an early Magpie strike cancelled out by four unanswered goals to the visitors.

An experimental line up by the Magpies saw them get off to a flying start when two minutes in, central midfielder Michael Lewington latched onto Jesse Konstantinoff’s early pass to blast a rising shot into the top corner of goal from twenty metres. With Chris Hyde, Kieran Guest and Konstantinoff roaming the forward line, supported by Kyle Eglinton, Tom Stevens and Lewington, the Magpies continued to have the upper hand on the University side during the early phases.

Hahndorf pushed the visitors into their own half, keen to add further scores to the board as they looked to capitalise on first use of the slope. University replied with a few chances over the bar as they sought to find a way past the defence of Ash Parr, Tim Staniford, Scott Breaker and “El Presidente” Stuart Thomas. Hahndorf custodian Andy Jones made a couple of sharp saves but within ten minutes the visitors had equalised, a slick movement leaving a free man at the top of the penalty area and he picked out the inside of the goalpost with a low shot.

The equaliser emboldened the University side and they put Hahndorf under pressure with a series of attacks but the Magpies held firm. Parr put in a trademark bustling run, slicing past several players to shoot and earn Hahndorf a corner that was promptly wasted by the Magpies. The teams traded attacks with the University hitting the crossbar with a fine shot before a Hahndorf free kick led to a bit of a scramble in Adelaide’s penalty area, Guest scything his shot wide in the melee.

The match was turning into a fairly even affair when the visitors took the lead; a short Hahndorf clearance was picked up and returned with interest to give Jones no chance. The lead encouraged University and they nearly extended their tally but for Jones making two tremendous, consecutive saves. Guest replied for the Magpies but pushed his header wide from a promising corner kick. Pressure just before half time by Adelaide was alleviated by Breaker, the full back making several telling tackles and interceptions as the visitors threatened.

Hahndorf brought on several players at the break, Ben “Beninho” Wells, Dan Mardle and Alex Robson, all backing up from the previous Super Cs fixture, as the Hills team looked to peg back the league leaders. However, University had other ideas and exposed the Magpies on the wings to open up a productive route to goal.

The Magpies defended well but the pressure took its toll and the Adelaide side broke through for their third score of the day. Hahndorf replied to put in several good moves but could not unravel the University defence for the answering goal. The visitors built up their attack and peppered the Hahndorf goal, giving Jones the opportunity to work on his fitness and shot-stopping skills.

Late into the match Adelaide eventually drew a penalty and scored, putting a dent in Jones’ extraordinary perfect record in penalty saves up to that point. The Magpies were disappointed to have conceded the four goals after a great start but with several players backing up after playing in the Super Cs, it was always going to be a tough ask. Best on the day for the Magpies was Michael Lewington, the big man in superb form with Kyle Eglinton and Andy Jones with great support.

Super Cs

The Super Cs got the day of football off to a fine start for the Magpies with a strong 3-0 win over Mt Lofty Eagles, Robbie Green showed age had not diminished his finishing skills with all three goals. Next week is a Cup round and the only team on display will be the Super Cs when they venture to Pt Elliot to take on the Southern Breakers.