The drenching rains of the preceding week gave cause to think the Budapest ground may resemble a swamp. However, despite some patches of grass deep enough to hide a small child, the pitch was remarkably firm and dry for the 12th round of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League 3rd Division fixture.
In the opening exchanges Hahndorf gained some good possession with Sol Scopazzi, Ben Stewart, David Grant and Hamish Vickers providing solid support to forwards Nathan Roennfeldt and Nat Stewart. The Magpies should have been awarded a penalty for handball but the referee missed the offence and the ball fell to N Stewart but his shot was deflected for a corner.
The visitors looked to double the score through a series of corners but they could not repeat their previous success. Budapest began put some pressure on the Magpie defensive line, with Stuart “El Presidente” Thomas, Matt Filmer, Stephen Ness and the Swiss Maestro, Sam Putallaz reasonably comfortable hitherto. A quick break by the home side almost caught Hahndorf out but Filmer made a terrific saving tackle to deny Budapest.
The play shifted in favour of Budapest but the Magpies were solid in defence and the hosts could not find an effective shot on target while Kennedy was sure in his goalkeeping. In the final five minutes of the half the Magpies wrested back the initiative and capitalised on a corner. A weighted header from B Stewart at the back post was directed to Grant at the front. The Scotsman leapt high to tuck the ball inside the post with a well-timed header to give Hahndorf a well deserved 2-0 lead at the break.
In contrast, the Magpies were surgical in their attack, Scopazzi slicing open Budapest with a perfectly weighted pass to Vickers. Drawing the Budapest goalkeeper out, Vickers unselfishly squared the ball to B Stewart who had the simplest of tasks to roll the ball into the empty net.
The third Hahndorf goal seemed to knock the confidence of Budapest and frustration began to creep into their game. Vickers was exploiting the wing and soon produced a good cross that just eluded N Stewart. Roennfeldt followed up and shot truly but a desperate lunge diverted the strike.
Vickers almost made it five when Roennfeldt’s cross reached him and he drove a fierce strike against the crossbar. Budapest responded with a couple of efforts on goal but Kennedy was never threatened. With the Magpies in control, two successive substitutions brought on youngsters Mitch Miller and Naite Hider.
Another corner to the Magpies made it 5-0, Putallaz precisely picking out Scopazzi on the edge of the six-yard box and the tall midfielder headed truly past the diving goalkeeper. Hahndorf were in rampant form and the home side struggled with many of their passes going astray.
A late flurry by Budapest eventually saw them pull back a consolation goal. A free kick was pushed sideways for a good strike at goal and the ball was sliced off a defender’s leg and into the net.
The win was a tremendous effort by the Magpies, all players putting in a comprehensive performance against a quality rival. There were many deserving of the Man of the Match honours, however Ben Stewart stood out with a consummate game in the engine room of midfield and a brace of goals. Other outstanding efforts came from David Grant, Sol Scopazzi and Nathan Roennfeldt.
The Hahndorf Reserves fought hard to remedy a two goal first half deficit, striving to the end to eventually share the points in a 2-2 draw.
Despite kicking into a robust, diagonal wind, Hahndorf took the match up to Budapest and largely dominated the opening fifteen minutes. Chris Hyde led the attack with support from JK Thomas, Harvey Watson and Aaron Fiora, the players pushing to find a goal but not creating many shots on target.
Luke Jones took an optimistic shot from distance that went over the crossbar and Thomas had two efforts narrowly miss the target. Scott Schubert organised the midfield and initiated many driving moves as the Magpies tried to convert their possession into goals.
Hahndorf tried to hit back with Jones forcing the ‘keeper into tipping a fierce drive over the bar. Watson produced a battling run to give Jones another chance but a defender deflected the goal-bound shot. With half time looming, the Magpies fell two goals behind after the hosts made the most of an attack to score a second goal that had more than a hint of offside during the build up.
Hahndorf entered the second half knowing they should have not been trailing and set about restoring scoreboard balance. Nevertheless Budapest had other ideas and Blake Horton made a sharp save at the near post to kick off the action in the second stanza.
Hahndorf tightened up in defence and Horton again made a good save to keep the Magpies in the match. It proved to be an important play as minutes later Schubert collected a pass from Thomas as Hahndorf made a flowing move down the flank. Schubert centred the ball and, in Tommy Oar style, the ball eluded the goalkeeper to nestle just inside the far post.
Buoyed by the goal, Hahndorf pressed for the equaliser and put the Budapest ‘keeper under scrutiny with a testing free kick and then Schubert blasted a shot over the bar. Mitch Miller entered the match for the Magpies and the youngster was straight into the action with an effort going wide of goal. With time running short, Schubert and Driver exchanged passes on the wing before setting Hyde up with a chance but the ball went narrowly wide.
Play had barely restarted before the match was brought to an end, Hahndorf well deserving of a point in the 2-2 draw. Best on the day for Hahndorf was late goal hero Harvey Watson, the attacking player busy all game and never giving up. Schubert, Thomas and Driver also produced fine performances in the match where the entire team did well to raise their game in the second half.
Next week Hahndorf host Torrens Valley in the return bout of the hills derby, the Magpies looking to carry their winning momentum into the clash and secure maximum points.
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