2013 Round 10: Hahndorf Magpies V USC Lion

In the tenth round of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League 3rd Division, a Nat Stewart brace ensured Hahndorf recorded their second successive win in a tough encounter with USC Lion.

Buoyed by their success the previous week, the Magpies entered the match against USC Lion with confidence despite requiring some enforced changes in personnel. Jarrod Kennedy started between the sticks with the evergreen Stuart Thomas, Steve Ness, Matt Filmer and the Swiss Maestro, Sam Putallaz comprising the defending line.

The match began at a furious pace with both Lion and Hahndorf battling for midfield supremacy, Hamish Vickers, Ben Stewart, Sol Scopazzzi and JK Thomas engaged in a physical tussle over possession. Lion gained an initial hold in Magpie territory but could not fashion any meaningful openings. Filmer and Ness were in a miserly mood and gave the Lion forwards little latitude in their quest for goals.

Nathan Roennfeldt and Nat Stewart spearheaded the Magpie attack, the former rampaging around the front line and giving the visitors little rest in defence. The pair had a few opportunities to open the scoring but the Lion goalkeeper was not overly stretched and a few Hahndorf shots went wide of goal.

The middle of the park contained the majority of the action, centring on Scopazzi and B Stewart, the pair involved in some engrossing battles and often the pair found a way out of tight situations with clever skills and passing. The Magpies built their game through the middle with occasional forays down the wings through JK Thomas and Vickers.

It was from a wide position that Hahndorf opened the scoring. Putallaz seized the opportunity of a free kick wide of the penalty area to drive a fierce ball into the six-yard box. The ball swung viciously toward goal and N Stewart popped up to flick his header into the net and give the Magpies the lead.

The visitors tried to hit back but their efforts proved to be fruitless in the face of some determined defending by Hahndorf. Lion took every opportunity to direct the ball to their centre forward but Filmer and Ness were alert to the threat and few shots made their way to Kennedy’s safe hands.

In the second half, Hahndorf were intent on keeping a clean sheet and confident they could outlast the opposition. They made a substitution at the break, bringing on youngster Mitchell Miller. The early minutes were again frantic as the two combatants attempted to assert their authority.

Filmer and Ness remained defiant in the defence of the Magpies lead and combined well with Puallaz, who had some superbly timed sliding tackles, and S Thomas, the veteran exemplary in the aerial duels. B Stewart continued to win the disputed balls in the middle of the park with willing support from Scopazzi, the tall midfielder holding his own against the physical approach of Lion.

Up front, Hahndorf continued to create chances and Scopazzi, Roennfeldt and N Stewart all had opportunities to extend the lead. The Magpies were putting together some fine play, moving the ball from defence to attack through some quick and dextrous passing, their confidence growing as the match progressed. Lion looked to threaten the Magpie goal but their best efforts arrived via corners and Kennedy was ruling his area with aplomb.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Hahndorf sought to push the match beyond Lion with a slick move that emanated from Scopazzi, the playmaker winning a contested midfield ball and striding clear to bisect the Lion defence with a precise pass. Miller read the play brilliantly and with a deft touch belying his tender years, sent N Stewart clear through on goal leaving the Lion defenders stranded. N Stewart raced toward goal and drove a firm shot past the advancing goalkeeper before wheeling away in joyous celebration after giving Hahndorf a deserved 2 goal lead.

In the final minutes the hosts could not afford to relax as Lion grew more desperate in their attempts to score and they had one good chance that Kennedy smothered on the edge of the penalty area, the Magpie ‘keeper swift to address the imminent danger. A second chance fell to the visitors, but upon breaking clear, the shot was hoisted well wide and high of goal.

Miller almost opened his senior account with the last attack of the match, the busy forward latching onto a quick throw and shooting at goal, but unfortunately the ball struck the near upright with the Lion custodian beaten.

The win puts Hahndorf in a positive mood as they begin the second half of the season and their team play and spirit has been progressing well throughout the year. The consecutive victories show their hard work is paying off in this year of rebuilding. There were many terrific performances across the park against Lion with outstanding games from Matt Filmer, Sol Scopazzi, Steve Ness, Sam Putallaz and Nat Stewart. However, it was Ben Stewart who took the Man of the Match honours with a tremendous display in the middle of the park, his ball-winning ability and distribution a major asset in Hahndorf’s play.

Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves showed great determination to secure victory with a come from behind 2-1 win over Lion in a tumultuous match.

The Magpies stayed with their new formation that almost brought them the points last week, however absence and injuries ensured a changed player list. Lion pressed Hahndorf from the start and during the first fifteen minutes the home team were largely on the back foot.

Captain Tim Staniford led the defence by example with great support from James Stratfold, Bob Edwards and Brendan Kilpatrick. The quartet effectively kept the Lion chances to a minimum and goalkeeper Blake Horton continued his good run of form with some sharp saves from the shots that got through.

Luke Jones and Scott Schubert were typically busy and matched up well against their opponents while Michael Driver and Naite Hider provided the Magpies with width. Harvey Watson worked hard in the highly contested middle along with Chris Hyde who provided a focal point up front.

The match developed into an arm wrestle with neither side able to carve open many clear opportunities. A few decisions unsettled players of both sides and the referee had no hesitation in punishing needless chat. Lion had a good chance to open the scoring late in the half but drove their free kick straight at Horton.

The second half got underway and the play went end to end with neither team able to generate many shots on goal with the respective defences holding all the cards. However, a moment of space gave Lion the opening they were seeking after fifteen minutes. Breaking free of a midfield tackle, the Lion playmaker hit blistering shot from distance that gave Horton no chance as it sailed into the top corner of goal.

The Magpies tried to respond but despite some terrific build up play, the goal remained elusive, Hyde, Watson and Driver getting the best opportunities. The hosts persisted however and a free to Hahndorf led to the equaliser. Watson sent in a fine cross from out wide and Hyde rose like a phoenix to power a bullet-like header past the ‘keeper and restore parity.

The score led to some unsavoury words to the ref and a resultant red card left Lion a man down. Tensions increased as the match entered the final twenty minutes. Both teams had the chance to take the lead, Lion almost scoring with a searing effort that just passed over the Hahndorf crossbar.

The Magpies continued to attack and a wide cross fell to youngster Hider who burst into the penalty area. The sixteen year old remained composed and buried a fine, low strike under the Lion goalkeeper to the delight of the Hahndorf team. The Magpies suffered some near scares in the final minutes but a resolute defence held out the visitors until the end of the game.

It was a terrific result for the Reserves who had given away leads in recent matches and it now puts them on the front foot for the remainder of the season. There were some fine performances across the pitch, but Harvey Watson took the Man of the Match honours with a great battling display all match. Others in contention included Scott Schubert, Tim Staniford, James Stratfold and Luke Jones.

Next week the Magpies look to continue their good form with an arduous trip away where they will take on One Tree Hill.