Due to my current incapacity I was not able to get to the Preliminary cup match but a secret correspondent known as the Spider Down Under sent this dispatch after the game. Unfortunately, there are no accompanying photographs but I hope to resume reports as normal in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, thanks to the Spider Down Under, enjoy this excellent chronicle of the action of the Magpies first competitive match of the 2013 season.
Dragon Rangers V Hahndorf Magpies
(Prelim Cup Round – Away on Sunday 7th April 2013)
It’s been an eventful few months for the Hahndorf Senior Men’s soccer teams. After a fruitless 2012 season and internal turmoil in the off-season a significant number of players have left the club for pastures new. It was only in early January that departing staff made their intentions known so the club has been enduring one of its toughest times yet. Couple that with some difficult trial matches and a sickening leg break to veteran Andy Craig that has almost certainly ended his career and the Senior side is almost starting from scratch.
A new beginning is almost exactly what new coach Bob McIntyre has had to plan around. There have been few players from the 2012 remaining so there’s a fresh start of sorts for the coach who is a well known personality in the Hills. McIntyre has been involved in the sport locally for over 20 years and is also the last Hahndorf coach to win a title with the club having taken the Senior men to the Division 2 title in 2004.
Since then, times have been lean and the club currently sits in Divison 3 after suffering relegation at the end of 2012. The side is almost unrecognisable from the 2012 side but there is a sense of optimism about the future and some exciting new talent come in for the 2013 season.
Last Sunday, the preliminary round of the state’s Cup competition took place. Hahndorf’s Reserves had a bye while the A Grade was drawn away to Dragon Rangers based in the Adelaide Parklands.
Hahndorf took to the field at the weekend in a conventional 4-4-2 formation with Jarrod Kennedy in goal behind a back four consisting Matt Filmer, Stuart Thomas, Sam Puttalaz and Steve Ness. With Thomas and Puttalaz fielded at left and right back respectively, Filmer and Ness held the central defensive roles.
Yongster Mitchell Miller, who recently celebrated his 16th birthday was employed wide on the left of midfield and veteran David Grant on the right, the midfield was completed with Brendan Kilpatrick and Solomon Scopazzi assuming central roles. Miller has shown great potential and maturity in pre-season with a brace in the friendly with Strathalbyn a few weeks ago and his more mature teammates were approaching 30 when he was born.
In attack, Gary Parsons partnered Jesse Konstaninoff.
The hosts proved to be a stubborn side and difficult to break down. They were nimble and determined and despite playing their league football in a lower tier than Hahndorf, showed they would be no pushovers.
During the opening exchanges the match was an even affair but as the half progressed, Hahndorf enjoyed greater possession. The Konstantinoff and Parsons partnership was being used for the first time and while it took time for them to find their own feet much less each others on the bumpy surface, both worked diligently and grabbed opportunities to run at defenders and test the ‘keeper when they could.
However, it was midfield veteran Brendan Kilpatrick that came closest to opening the scoring with a wonderful free kick that dipped onto the bar. He’d have been wishing he was a few yards further out to give the ball time to drop just a few more inches under the bar to beat both woodwork and ‘keeper but it wasn’t to be.
Hahndorf finally found the break it desperately sought when Grant beat his opponent to a loose ball then, with blistering pace that denied his years, he beat a second opponent to the bye-line where his cross soared to the back post. Miller steadied himself and headed the ball back across the face of goal for Parsons to force himself across two defenders and head the ball home to put the Magpies into a 1-0 lead.
Within 10 minutes however, Rangers had regained parity after winning and converting a penalty. Magpies ‘keeper, Kennedy guessed correctly diving low to his left but was unable to keep the ball from rippling the net.
At the break MacIntyre made no changes, electing to stick with the eleven starters but 10 minutes into the half, he made a double substitution. Taking Grant and Konstantinoff off for Johannes Edlar and Naite Hider respectively.
Hider’s pace posed a great threat to Rangers and with Ness and Kilpatrick exerting greater midfield control, Hahndorf started dominating. Scoppazi and Puttalaz, both with the potential to shoot well from distance began to unleash but Hahndorf’s winner came from close range when Parsons popped up for his second of the game following confusion in the Rangers’ defence.
McIntyre made his third and final substitution when he brought on Luke Jones for Parsons just before Kennedy pulled off a save from point-blank to maintain Hahndorf’s 2-1 lead and prevent the possibility of extra time and penalties. The Magpies then held on to win the tie and progress to the next round. Best on ground for Hahndorf was Kennedy who, other than the penalty, stopped the Rangers’ attacks well.
Next week sees the first round of the League competition. Hahndorf start the campaign with a tricky trip to Grange to play USC Lion. Where they will be seeking a first league win since 2011. The side will be fielding both A and Reserve Grade teams but are still seeking players to boost squad depth and anyone interested is invited to train with the team on Wednesday evenings from 7pm at Mylor Oval. Coach Bob McIntyre can be contacted on 0438-856-810 for further details.
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