2012 Round 18: Hahndorf Magpies V Adelaide Vipers

Hahndorf finished off a difficult season with a disappointing 0-5 loss against the Adelaide Vipers, conceding three second half goals in rapid succession to put the match out of reach.

The Magpies started the final round with some enforced changes due to injury and absences, Jesse Konstantinoff and the wily Scot, David Grant brought into the line up. Andy Jones took his usual position between the sticks with Lloyd Oppelaar, Todd Newman, Michael Lewington and Ash Parr making up the back four.

Captain Matt Norris and Konstantinoff led the forward line supported by the midfield quartet of Kane Oppelaar, Scott Graham, Steven Ness and Grant. The home team made a solid start against the Vipers, the visiting side in contention for promotion and keen for the three points. The opponents exchanged attacks in testing out the respective defences with a few players finding conditions a little slippery after a week of persistent precipitation.

Chances occurred at both ends to keep the crowd on their toes with the Vipers having a couple of very good opportunities but failing to open their account. The Magpies responded with some attacking threats through Konstantinoff and Graham but they too did not disturb the scoreboard.

That changed when a defensive error gifted the Vipers the lead, Newman stretching to head an errant pass to Jones but the Magpie keeper had committed himself forward and the ball bounced into the empty net. The goal enlivened the visitors and they pushed for another score. Hahndorf tried to respond and came close with a couple of shots by Norris but it was the Vipers who took the ascendancy with a neat exchange of passes to break into the penalty area and slot away the second goal five minutes from half time.

The half time break did not seem to help Hahndorf and they looked decidedly nervous in defence, a miscommunication again seeing the ball headed past Jones by a fellow Magpie but this time the ball passed wide of goal. Grant and Ness tried to generate some possession and movement through the midfield, linking with Konstantinoff and K Oppelaar out wide. However, Hahndorf had trouble generating chances in the attacking third of the pitch, the Vipers defence alert to the Magpie threat.

The match slipped out of Hahndorf’s hands in the space of five minutes, starting when a free kick was driven into the six yard box and the Vipers got an unchallenged header past Jones. Play had barely restarted when the visitors regained possession and stormed up the pitch to lash a fierce shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area. Minutes later, the Magpies failed to clear a cross and it was poked into the net at the far post, Hahndorf in disarray during the horror period of play.

Jordan Webber and Kierran Guest entered the match for the Magpies as the home team attempted to restore some pride and the youngsters did help Hahndorf to put together some of their best play. The Vipers remained firm in defence however and kept the Magpies at bay. With the final minutes of the season looming, Coach Steve Handley made an appearance on the park and linked up with Guest during a surging run into attack to the cheers of the Hahndorf faithful.

The final result made for a disappointing end to a difficult season where Hahndorf struggled to find consistency and application during many of their matches. Best on the day for Hahndorf was Steven Ness who battled hard throughout the match, with Jesse Konstantinoff also doing well in his role and Dave Grant rounded out the votes with a solid effort upon his return to first team football.

Reserves
In a classic game of two halves, the Hahndorf Reserves tenaciously hung on to a one goal lead before a penalty late in the second half resulted in a highly contested draw with the Vipers.

Despite some late changes to the line up, the Magpies were determined to end the season with a good effort against the Vipers. Andy Jones stepped into the goalkeeping role with the late withdrawal of the Magpies regular custodian, Vaughan Barratt. The defensive line consisted of Scott Breaker, Tim Stainiford, Andy Craig and Ben “Beninho” Wells with Kyle Eglinton, James Anderson, Stuart ”El Presidente” Thomas and Angus Hambrook making up a solid midfield.

The Magpies started well, kicking down the slope and quickly drew forwards Jordan Webber and Kierran Guest into the play. Hahndorf put a few shots on target to show their intent as the Vipers struggled to get any cohesion in their set up. The Magpies were comfortable at the back in the early going, looking to build their attack through Anderson, Eglinton and Thomas in the midfield.

The Vipers had a few shots on goal but none really troubled Jones, the visitors not able to carve out any clear chances. Hahndorf threatened the Vipers’ goal several times through corners and free kicks but it took a sterling effort by Anderson before the deadlock was broken. Anderson fired in a delightful free kick from outside the area, negating the defensive wall and leaving the Vipers’ ‘keeper in despair as the ball rocketed into the corner of the net.The Magpies continued to have the advantage over the Vipers for the remainder of the half but despite creating some very good chances, they could not add to the score.

During the break the Magpies made some changes, putting Guest in goal and bringing on prolific Super Cs striker Scott Bonner up front. The Vipers emerged from the half time oranges in determined mood and put the Magpies under pressure from the restart. Thomas and Anderson worked hard to blunt the Vipers midfield influence while the back four forced the Vipers to take shots from distance with Guest capably dealing with any on target shots.

Hahndorf tried to regain their structure and purpose from the first half but as the match wore on it was the Vipers who looked more likely to score. The Magpies were in defiant mood however and the back four worked hard to stop the Vipers getting any close chances on goal. Ben Simpson joined the fray with fifteen minutes remaining, Hahndorf still presenting a solid defence to frustrate the visitors.

The pressure eventually drew a rash challenge in the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Guest went the right way but the Vipers’ penalty taker had plenty of power behind the ball to elude the Magpies custodian and level the scores. The remaining minutes saw both teams vying for a winning strike at goal but in the end the respective defences stood tall in the hard fought contest.

Best on the day for Hahndorf was El Presidente, Stuart Thomas showing he still has the game and skills to anchor the midfield with James Anderson also having a great impact in the middle and on the scoresheet. Kierran Guest and Angus Hambrook also featured in the votes, Guest doing very well in his dual roles on the pitch and between the sticks.

Super Cs
The Super Cs finished off a successful season with a comprehensive 5-2 win against the Vipers to wrap up fourth position on the league table.

A disciplined display saw the Magpies go out to a 4 nil lead through goals by John Lawler, Scott Schubert and two to prodigal son, Kane Stubing. After half time a resurgent Vipers made it 4-2 with a couple of strikes within ten minutes of each other. However, a neat series of passes resulted in Stubing completing his hat trick with a near post finish to put an end to the Vipers revival.