2013 Round 9: Hahndorf Magpies V Angkor Hornbill

With passing of the shortest day, it was fitting that Hahndorf choose Saturday to narrow the daylight to the teams above them with their maiden win of the season, an impressive 2-0 victory over Angkor.

Despite the biting cold, the Magpies warmed to their match with Angkor by going on an early attack through Sol Scopazzi and striker Simon Gale. The move did not result in a shot at goal but the positive intent from the home team was clear. Nathan Roennfeldt joined the action and several runs down the wing kept Angkor on the back foot as the Magpies threatened the visitor’s goal.

Angkor, resplendent in their replica Real Madrid strip, responded and worked their way into attack to put Matt Filmer, Steve Ness, Hamish Vickers and Sam Putallaz under pressure. However, the quartet were up to the task during the opening exchanges and goalkeeper Jarrod Kennedy comfortably held the few shots that found their way toward goal.

JK Thomas and Scopazzi gave Hahndorf a great chance to open the scoring, exchanging a series of short passes as they linked up down the wing. A low cross was cut back to find Gale but he lifted the ball over the bar with the yawning goal beckoning.

The disappointment was short-lived however when Peter Atkinson picked up a loose ball from wide midfield and a burst of speed took him into the Angkor penalty area. The nimble speedster closed in on goal and drove in a fine shot with the outside of his boot that slipped under the visiting ‘keeper for the opening score.

The visitors battled to reply and earned a free kick within promising range but Kennedy was well placed to effect the save. Ben Stewart and Scopazzi were fiercely competitive in the middle of the park, giving the Angkor playmakers little scope and the battle for possession was absorbing. The pace of the Magpies attack was troubling the visitors and Roennfeldt was a major protagonist, barrelling past several opponents and unleashing a rasping shot that was acrobatically tipped over the crossbar.

Angkor had several chances to equalise as they built up their play but the resultant efforts on goal often went astray when they should have done better. When they did find a true aim, Kennedy maintained his sparkling form and made a couple of excellent saves.

Hahndorf also wasted some good opportunities; Putallaz’s usually reliable boot deserted him during several free kicks within scoring range, while Gale and Roennfeldt squandered some great play by not taking their chances. Scopazzi and Atkinson ended the half with further efforts on goal but could not add to the tally.

The second half began with both teams struggling to carve open the opposition defences as play went end to end but shots on goal were rare. Roennfeldt eventually broke free and latched onto a Thomas through ball however, while his strike was on target, the Angkor ‘keeper deflected it wide. The Magpies established a hold on the match, keeping the visitors fairly quiet in attack but due to only leading by a single goal, the margin was never totally comfortable.

With twenty minutes remaining in the game, Scopazzi gave the Magpies the insurance they were looking for. Stewart, who had been outstanding in subduing Angkor’s main creative threat, won a crucial ball in midfield and passed to Scopazzi. The tall midfielder strode forward past two challenges and unloaded a cracking drive from twenty-five metres that whistled past the despairing dive of the ‘keeper to find the net.

The second goal to Hahndorf visibly took the wind out of the sails of the Angkor ship and a free to them soon after was tamely lofted into a scrum of players where Filmer rose highest with the clearing header.

The Magpies were full of confidence and a slick exchange of passes between Scopazzi and Stewart set Atkinson free to shoot at goal, the strike forcing a great save from the Angkor gloveman. With time running down, veterans Stuart Thomas and David Grant entered the match and Hamish Vickers, who was having a quiet match at fullback, was promoted to the forward line.

Vickers immediately forged a rapport with JK Thomas and the two had several raids down the wing, on one occasion Vickers almost finding the net with a strike across the face of goal. Vickers returned the favour, his intricate footwork deceiving the Angkor defence as he set JK Thomas up for a shot that unfortunately passed wide.

Angkor had two late chances to get back into the match but Kennedy was supreme on both occasions to deny the visitors. A late substitution introduced Mitchell Miller and he immediately was involved, passing on a Stewart interception to Gale who scooped the shot wide from a good opportunity.

The final whistle drew cheers and relief for the Magpies and their supporters, their previous league win recorded in round 16 of 2011, and the three points lifted Hahndorf off the foot of the table. The win was built on the combined efforts of all players, with outstanding contributions from Ben Stewart, Nathan Roennfeldt, Simon Gale, Matt Filmer and Jarrod Kennedy. However, the Man of the Match award went to Sol Scopazzi for his dynamic and ball winning midfield play, topped off with spectacular goal.

Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves battled hard to get in a winning position but a strong second half by Angkor gave them the three points in a 2-3 result.

Hahndorf went into the match with a new formation to combat their fleet-footed opponents and the defensive quartet of James Stratfold, Brendan Kilpatrick, Tim Staniford and Johannes Edler were in the action from the start.

Angkor dominated the early going but the Magpies were resolute and Hahndorf custodian Blake Horton made a terrific save to keep the visitors at bay. The cobwebs had barely been cleared before Sean Behan succumbed to a muscle strain and Jason Mackenzie was called upon to replace him. However he also did not last long and fell foul of Behan’s ailment and Aaron Fiora was brought on, the Magpies using two substitutes in the opening twenty minutes.

While the Angkor first team played in Real Madrid strips, the Hahndorf Reserves were treated to the red of Liverpool on their opponents and a slick move saw the replica reds tap in from six yards to open the scoring.

Hahndorf almost answered immediately through Chris Hyde, the striker shooting wide after Harvey Watson robbed the Angkor full back of possession. Scott Schubert forged forward from deep midfield to give Luke Jones a sharp chance that was blocked. Michael Driver followed up to collect the loose ball and with an audacious short chip beat the Angkor ‘keeper and levelled the scores.

Play evened up with both teams having chances but not capitalising on their play, the Magpies defending well to stop the flow of the visitors. Jones had a shot deflected wide as Hahndorf countered and soon after the hosts took the lead when a poor goal kick went straight to Hyde. The marksman’s eyes lit up and he returned the ball with interest, the thunderous strike leaving the ‘keeper all at sea.

After the break, Hahndorf tried to maintain their defensive form but the visitors slowly chipped away at the edges to put Horton under pressure, the rangy ‘keeper making several great saves. However, the pressure eventually cracked open the Magpie defence and a incisive strike gave Horton no chance.

With parity restored, the momentum was building in the Angkor side and only some fine defending was preventing the visitors from another score. It was then dismaying when Hahndorf did concede from a miss-hit cross, the ball drifting in at the back post, Tommy Oar style, to give Angkor the lead with ten minutes remaining.

Hahndorf fought back and had several chances to equalise, one where Watson had the ball in the back of the net before the goal was disallowed for offside. The final score was disappointing as for the third successive match the Magpies had worked hard to establish a lead but it had vanished by the final whistle. However, the form of the team is encouraging and they are not far off from stringing a good set of results together.

Man of the Match for the Reserves was Blake Horton, who made some terrific stops and his confidence is rapidly building. In a good display across the park, other notable performances included Scott Schubert, Luke Jones and Michael Driver.

Next week Hahndorf begin the second half of the season at the Pine Avenue Arena where they will host USC Lion.

2013 Round 8: Murray Bridge United V Hahndorf Magpies

A tight tussle between Murray Bridge United and Hahndorf Magpies was decided by a single goal, the hosts getting their second consecutive win through former Magpie Kane Oppelaar.

The bright and sunny weather conditions were near perfect for the first team fixture with the only blemish on the scene being some muddy areas in the lower half of the pitch. The two combatants both looked to impose themselves early in the match and an arm wrestle developed that was to continue for the duration of the game.

A few changes were enforced on the Magpies but they put out a competitive line up with Simon Gale and Nat Stewart leading the strike force with JK Thomas, Sol Scopazzi, Nathan Roennfeldt and Hamish Vickers filling the midfield. Gale managed to get off the first salvo at goal, a cheeky lob that drifted just wide of the Murray Bridge goal. JK Thomas and Scopazzi found some fertile ground on the flanks to put Hahndorf on the offensive but their crosses could not find a Magpie target.

Vickers was impressing on his debut and a scything run won the Magpies a corner and hinted at his tremendous potential. Murray Bridge responded with some attacking forays but Matt Filmer was superb with the timing of his tackles to prevent United getting a sight on goal. He repeated his efforts soon after as the Hahndorf defence were increasingly engaged in the play, the "Swiss Maestro" Sam Putallaz, Stuart Thomas and Steve Ness busy defending Jarrod Kennedy’s goal.

Gale was a livewire in attack for the Magpies and demonstrated some dazzling footwork before chipping just wide of the target. Scopazzi joined in with header just over the crossbar and followed up with a fine drive but the Murray Bridge keeper was in good position to make the save. Roennfeldt, JK Thomas and Scopazzi combined to give Gale a further chance but his volley flashed past the front post after a fine build up by Hahndorf.

Murray Bridge contained three former Magpies from last season and it was one of these that gave United their best chance on goal in the half. Scott Graham lined up a Murray Bridge free kick twenty-five metres from goal and drove his shot over the wall and the dipping ball drew a tremendous save from Kennedy who reacted with cat-like reflexes to tip the ball over the bar.

The Magpies struck back with JK Thomas working down the wing to deliver a fine cross that Vickers, arriving late, met well at the front post but he flicked his shot just over the target. Vickers was again in the action soon after, stealing the ball from a tardy United player and grazing the post with a fierce drive.

The second half saw much of the same box-to-box action as both teams fought to break the deadlock but found the respective defences in fine fettle. Ness injected himself into the game, intercepting forward thrusts and his passes finding teammates during difficult situations.

Hahndorf gained a couple of good opportunities through Scopazzi who had a goal-bound header deflected away from goal and Stewart tried his luck but was denied by some solid defending. The Magpies were pressuring Murray Bridge for a good period when a counter attack broke the match open.

Former Hahndorf player, Kane Oppelaar, burst free and drove in a fine angled shot from the corner of the penalty area to give the hosts the opening score. The goal had the home team with their tails up and they almost doubled their lead minutes later but for some excellent defending by Filmer.

The two teams raised the tempo and the action went end to end as the competitors exchanged shots on goal. Kennedy made several good saves, with one outstanding effort denying the Murray Bridge striker in a one-on-one contest.

As time ebbed away, Mitch Miller and Harvey Watson were brought on for the Magpies as they desperately sought the equaliser. The Hahndorf build up was putting the visitors into good positions but the final pass or shot lacked the cutting edge needed to penetrate the Murray Bridge goal. In the end time ran out for the Magpies before their attacking pressure could exact a toll.

It was a bitter defeat for Hahndorf who had matched or bettered the home side in many aspects apart from the one that counted, on the scoreboard. With many players putting in fine performances, the Man of the Match honours was closely contested, but the outstanding defensive nous of Matt Filmer took the award. Others of note included Jarrod Kennedy, Steve Ness, Simon Gale and Hamish Vickers.

Reserves
A wayward Hahndorf Reserves threw away a potential three points due to their profligate finishing and allowed Murray Bridge to get their first win of the season with a 2-1 result.

The Magpies started in fine form and held possession in Murray Bridges half for the opening five minutes with Scott Schubert, Harvey Watson and Sean Behan initiating proceedings to bring forwards Sol Scopazzi and Michael Driver into the game.

An early corner to the visitors kept the pressure on Murray Bridge and a rash challenge from behind on Johannes Edler should have resulted in a penalty to Hahndorf but the referee’s attention was apparently elsewhere during the incident and the foul went unpunished.

Murray Bridge mounted an attack to put defenders Tim Staniford, Jason McKenzie, Edler and Luke Jones on alert and a dangerous cross passed through Blake Horton’s penalty area as a warning. Seconds later, hesitation in the backline gave United a clear shot at goal and the ball skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Hahndorf responded through Scopazzi who shot straight at the goalkeeper and the rebound was blocked despite the best efforts of Watson and Schubert. However, the breakthrough came soon after when a quick free opened up United and Scopazzi put a first-time ball across to Schubert and he smashed the ball into the back of the net.

Hahndorf continued to press for more goals but either missed the target or managed to pick out the goalkeeper with their efforts. Defensively, Staniford was defusing the Murray Bridge attacks until a through ball caught the Magpies out and the hosts scored the equaliser with ten minutes remaining in the half. Murray Bridge almost took the lead minutes later but Horton made a terrific save from a one-on-one situation.

At the break, Mitch Miller entered the game and Hahndorf continued to press for goals with Jones and Schubert having chances. Miller latched onto a throw and lobbed a ball to the back post where Behan met it with a solid goal-bound header that the ‘keeper fended away. Schubert pounced on the loose ball but his shot too was blocked.

Hahndorf’s wastefulness was punished when a breakaway put United through on goal and the striker made no mistake to put the hosts into a 2-1 lead. The Magpies answered with another shot at the goalkeeper and soon after Miller had a great one-on-one chance but the United custodian again effected the save.

With time running out Hahndorf continued to search for the equaliser but found the path to the back of the net blocked repeatedly by the Murray Bridge goalkeeper. Watson made a smart interception and beat two opponents but could not beat the in-form United ‘keeper and several other attempts met with a similar outcome.

The result was a frustrating one for the Magpies who had played some fine football but could not capitalise on their chances while the home team were overjoyed at their first win of the season. Best on the day for the Magpies was Scott Schubert who made many fine runs and animated the midfield all match with Johannes Edler and Harvey Watson also contributing fine efforts.

Next week Hahndorf host Angkor at the Pine Avenue Arena.

2013 Round 7:Hahndorf Magpies V Flinders University

It was bottom verses top as Hahndorf and Flinders University battled the elements and each other before the visitors emerged with a 1-5 win after mastering the difficult conditions at the Pine Avenue Arena.

The first day of winter defied the warming climate change trend, bringing lashing rain showers amid temperatures in the lower teens and the prospect of the postponement of the clash on the sodden pitch.

However, thanks to years of hard work by the club, led by grounds man Rob Kilpatrick, and the cancellation of the Reserves fixture, the referee was happy to start the match after a thorough inspection. Surface water occupied some sections of the ground but the opening minutes showed some slick moves by both teams as they adjusted to the pace of the pitch.

The Magpies retained the same starting formation as last week, with Jarrod Kennedy in goal behind veteran Stuart Thomas, Matt Filmer, Steve Ness and the “Swiss Maestro”, Sam Putallaz. Ben Stewart, Joe Thomas, David Grant and Sol Scopazzi filled the midfield while the forward line blended youth and experience with Nathan Roennfeldt and Chris Hyde.

The visitors almost opened the scoring after a series of passes put them within sight of goal but a great stop on the line by Grant was cleaned up by Kennedy. The Magpies’ custodian looked to be in for a busy afternoon minutes later when he made a terrific double save from close range and then escorted a header as it passed over the crossbar.

The pressure on the Hahndorf goal was relieved through a neat move up the flank and Scopazzi sent a good ball to Roennfeldt but the striker was wide with his shot. Flinders answered with a number of intricate passes to create a good opportunity but Kennedy was again brilliant in saving a certain goal. The visitors were adjusting to the conditions better than the Magpies and errant passes and ricochets seemed to fall University’s way.

Hahndorf found some meaningful possession and a foul led to Putallaz sending in a sharp free kick that Roennfeldt flicked toward goal but the University ‘keeper was quick to react and pushed the ball wide. A series of corners to Hahndorf kept the pressure on Flinders but the Magpies could not break through. The good period of play continued with Roennfeldt and Hyde combining well before a searching ball sent across the penalty area went unclaimed by the Magpies.

A free to Flinders just beyond the 18-yard box presented a good chance and Kennedy produced an outstanding save, throwing himself high and wide to tip the shot over the bar. Hahndorf were tardy in marking up for the resultant corner and the visitors played it short, sending a deflected cross ballooning to goal where it hit the back post and bounced straight to a Flinders player who tapped in from four metres.

University doubled their lead minutes later with a neat pattern of play that had the Magpies sliced open at the back and the move was finished with a fine shot that found the inside of the far post. The Magpies regrouped and a Grant effort forced a save before another Putallaz free kick had the University ‘keeper scrambling to keep out the slippery effort.

Scopazzi, Grant and Hyde combined well together as the Magpies put some of their best moves hitherto in the match. Stewart and J Thomas were battling well in the trying conditions but a lapse in defence led to Flinders scoring the third goal. A header looped into the corner of goal after a cross was allowed from out wide.

The Magpies responded in the best possible way, Ness driving from defence to pinpoint Hyde with a precise pass. Hyde played a sublime flick to wrong foot the University defence and Roennfeldt latched on to the through ball. The Ruud van Nistelrooy doppelganger dashed into the penalty area and took the ball around the ‘keeper before slotting the ball in with his left foot.

The remainder of the half saw chances at either end with Scopazzi and Hyde combining to put an enticing ball into the penalty area but the Magpies were unable to capitalise. Flinders tried to stretch their lead with an audacious lob that just cleared the target before the referee signalled the end of an entertaining and rain-soaked half.

Regular showers continued to visit the Hahndorf ground and the second stanza was played in similar conditions to the first, the pitch remarkably showing little deterioration over the course of the match. Flinders held a possessive advantage over the Magpies but Ness, Filmer and Stewart ensured competition for the ball was fierce.

Surprisingly, Putallaz struggled with his usually precise set pieces, putting a free from the edge of the penalty area over the target with the Magpies looking to redress the goal balance. Injury then struck Captain Grant and he needed to be replaced with Simon Gale as the match entered a period of to and fro with neither side able to create a clear chance.

The run of the ball was not favouring the hosts and several plays broke down as passes did not quite find their target and loose balls seemed to gravitate to the Flinders’ players. Kennedy remained a pillar of strength for the Magpies with some inspiring saves making a mockery of the slippery conditions and keeping University at bay.

Mitch Miller and Tim Staniford entered the match to cover a niggling injury and tiring legs as the visitors held the majority of play but wasted several chances with shots high over the crossbar. Ness replied for Hahndorf, advancing to latch on to a free kick but his shot was deflected for a corner. Seconds later he was again on hand to pick up a loose ball that he fired over the crossbar from an acute angle.

Miller was eager in the Magpie forward line and harried the ball away from a University defender. Scopazzi pounced on the crumbs and drove a fierce shot that scraped the crossbar with the Flinders’ ‘keeper beaten. The match entered the final ten minutes and some sloppy marking allowed a determined Flinders’ run to break into the box and a well placed shot gave Kennedy no chance as the ball found the corner of goal.

Minutes later the visitors added a fifth, a clearance from a cross was miscued and fell to a University player on the edge of the box. He drove it past a tired defence to emphatically put the match beyond the Magpies.

The hosts did not give up however and in the dying minutes Gale and Staniford exchanged passes in a flowing move to force a Hahndorf corner. The Magpies held the ball in the danger zone and it fell to Hyde, the experienced striker pivoting and just shooting wide.

The result was disappointing for the Magpies as they were competitive against the top-placed University side but could not stem the tide in trying conditions. Jarrod Kennedy produced some outstanding saves once again for Hahndorf and deservedly took the Man of the Match honours with his exceptional game. Others with fine efforts included Chris Hyde who wound back the years with his classy touches and Nathan Roennfeldt showing his potential in an energetic display and fine goal.

Hahndorf now have a week off to regroup before travelling to the end of the freeway for the visit to Murray Bridge, the two teams currently at the wrong end of the table and looking for a positive result.