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.