The Magpies were looking for an improved performance after last week’s disappointing match and they began with Jarrod Kennedy in goal commanding a defensive line containing veteran Stuart Thomas, Steve Ness, Matt Filmer and the ‘Swiss Maestro’, Sam Putallaz. The quartet were soon in the action with Hazara starting swiftly to get the first shot at goal but it went straight to Kennedy.
Hahndorf’s midfield answered the challenge through Solomon Scopazzi who rounded off a good move and hit the target but also found the Hazara ‘keeper. Kennedy was again in good position to stop sharp drive from the visiting forward before a good move from the Magpies moved the ball down the flank and in-form Ben Stewart shot over.
The game settled for a period as the two sides matched up, ‘El Capitano’ David Grant and Nat Stewart working the middle of the park to get forwards Garry Parsons and Nathan Roennfeldt into the match.. Continued possession by Hahndorf opened up good opportunities but both Scopazzi and Parsons directed their headers over the crossbar.
The Magpies were pushing the visitors but failing to convert their play into goals and their profligacy was put into sharp focus when Hazara mounted two quick successive attacks. Repelling the first, Kennedy was unable to stop a well-placed Hazara shot from finding the corner of goal to take the lead.
A chance to equalise fell to Roennfeldt after a good build up involving Scopazzi and Parsons but the opportunity was headed wide. A free kick just outside the penalty area presented another opening but the kick was well covered by the Hazara goalkeeper. A defensive give away by Hahndorf was almost punished but the visiting forward blasted high over the bar from a good position.
The Magpie back line was coping well with the smaller, faster Hazara attackers, Ness and Filmer well-organised to nullify the threats and Putallaz getting in some well timed tackles on the flanks. The play was entertaining for the neutral observer, the action going end to end with a sprinkling of shots to keep the respective ‘keepers honest.
Hahndorf ended the half with a goal attempt going well over the crossbar, a fitting summation of their game as they had plenty of the play but were unable to make it count on the scoreboard.
The Magpies brought on Simon Gale at the break and opened the half in encouraging fashion, gaining a free kick just outside the penalty box. Again the attempt at goal was astray but the Magpies held the ball in Hazara’s defensive third and earned a corner.
Putallaz drove in the kick to Grant who flicked the ball on and it defected its way through a forest of legs to end up in the net to the delight of the Magpies. With parity restored Hahndorf found they could not rest on their laurels as Hazara forced a brilliant save from Kennedy, the Magpies’ custodian tipping a goal-bound free kick over the crossbar.
A minute later Kennedy was again in great position to rescue Hahndorf, grasping a shot from close in that had the striker dreaming of the winning goal as it left his boot. Hahndorf steadied through Ness, the experienced Magpie defusing the attacking thrusts of the visitors and finding outlets with some composed passing.
Roennfeldt remained a thorn in the side of Hazara, the Van Nistelroy look-alike harassing the Hazara defence at every opportunity and winning the majority of his challenges. A clever piece of play saw him strip a defender of the ball but unfortunately he could not find Parsons in the penalty area with the centring pass.
The match was a developing into titanic battle as the contest went from box to box and an attack by Hazara eventually found the net, an angled shot going across Kennedy to just nestle inside the goal upright. Hahndorf immediately tried to hit back and nearly succeeded when Roennfeldt latched onto a Parsons’ flick on but pushed his lob narrowly wide of goal with the ‘keeper beaten.
Youngster Mitch Miller made an appearance with fifteen minutes remaining as the Magpies increased the tempo in their search for an equaliser. Ness continued to dominate his position and sent Grant on a run down the flank. The Scot rolled back the years with some mesmerising footwork and earned a free just outside the penalty area. However, disappointingly the resultant kick went just high of the intended target.
Ness made a fine run and was brought down, the foul giving Hahndorf another free in a good position. Putallaz struck a powerful drive and it deflected off a defender to give the Magpies a corner. Thomas looked in prime position to capitalise on the corner kick but a push on him went unseen despite the shouts for a penalty from the vocal home support.
With time running down, Hahndorf mounted a concerted assault on the Hazara goal and probed for an opening in the visitors defence. A series of corners nearly brought the goal but Hazara repelled the attack with almost all the Hahndorf players committed in the forward third.
The Magpies retained possession through Scopazzi who danced with the ball on the edge of the penalty area as numerous Magpies queued up in the box. After what seemed an eternity, Scopazzi found the space he was looking for and fired in a head high ball. Grant reacted first and attacked the inviting cross to power a header past the static defenders and into the net before wheeling away in joyous celebration.
Play had barely restarted before the referee blew the whistle for full time, the Magpies finding the equaliser with a minute remaining in the match. The result was just reward for the Magpies, the team never giving up and putting together a fine team effort. Best on the day for Hahndorf was Steve Ness, the reliable player instrumental in fortifying the defence and blunting the Hazara attack. Ben Stewart, Matt Filmer, David Grant, Sam Putallaz and Jarrod Kennedy were also in the frame with their outstanding endeavours during the match.
Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves were unlucky not to share the points in a hard fought contest, Hazara scoring in the 88th minute to secure a 1-2 win.
The visitors got off to a dream start when a miscued back pass was pounced on by the quick Hazara forward and he made no mistake in the one-on-one with Hahndorf goalkeeper Blake Horton.
The hosts regained their composure with Luke Jones, Bob Edwards, Tim Staniford and Johannes Edler adjusted to the sharp play of the visitors. Several chances went begging for the Magpies before a penalty gave Jones a chance to equalise. The bustling Magpie made it two goals in consecutive matches with a blistering penalty kick that gave the ‘keeper no chance and threatened the integrity of the goal net.
The Hahndorf midfield of Scott Schubert, Graham Philips, Hamish Vickers and Harvey Watson battled hard to contain the flighty visitors, their movement causing some concern in the Magpie camp while Aaron Fiora and Michael Driver provided some attacking focus for the home team.
Half time saw Brendan Kilpatrick and Naite Hider enter the fray as both teams sought the opening to goal. Staniford was in fine form throughout the match to close down the Hazara attacks, with Edler and Jones providing a solid barrier. Smart organisation by Edwards often caught the visitors in an offside position as play went end to end.
Hider went close to breaking the deadlock several times but more than once was he restricted by some subtle shirt pulling. Edler and Hider had good shots saved as the match looked to remain at parity. However, heartbreak was to befall the Magpies when Hazara finally broke through the defence and scored with less than two minutes remaining.
It was a good performance from Hahndorf, battling hard all day and they were deserving of a share of the points before the late lapse in concentration. Best on the day for the Magpies was Tim Staniford, his tireless running and work rate an inspiration.
Next week Hahndorf travel to the hallowed turf of the Adelaide University playing grounds in the north parklands to take on the competitive Uni Blacks.
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