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.