2013 Round 18: Angkor Hornbill V Hahndorf Magpies

In the final game of the season, Hahndorf could not capitalise on their opportunities and went down 4-1 to a quick and more efficient Angkor.

It was a fine, warm day for the clash between Hahndorf and Angkor, the hills team travelling to Parafield Gardens for the final round of the 2013 South Australian Amateur Soccer League 3rd Division. The pitch was unusually hard and presented some awkward bounces throughout the day and this placed an emphasis on gaining quick control of the ball.

The Magpies opted for a three man defensive line, with Stephen Ness, Nathan Roennfeldt and Sam “the Swiss Maestro” Putallaz in front of emergency gloveman Luke Jones. The trio were soon under pressure from the Hornbill attackers and the home side opened the scoring within five minutes of play.

Hahndorf regained their composure and replied within minutes, the Magpies gaining a free kick and JK Thomas heading in from Putallaz’s precise set piece for the equaliser. Sol Scopazzi, David Grant, Ben Stewart and Hamish Vickers found their rhythm and Hahndorf looked to have taken the lead only for a dubious, late offside call to cancel out the goal.

Nat Stewart and Simon Gale were creating problems for the Angkor defence but found their radar astray. Gale exposed an opening but blasted his shot high and Stewart went narrowly wide after a quick breakaway put him through on goal.

A free on the edge of the area for Hornbill caused concern but Jones made a terrific diving save to keep scores level. The action was going end to end with both teams producing some flowing moves despite the irregular bounce. Several times Angkor found their way through the Hahndorf defence however Ness made a couple of brilliant recoveries to deny the hosts a shot at goal.

N Stewart and Gale found further chances but despite getting in good positions, the pair could not find the net. It was similar for Hornbill as they found Hahndorf defending in numbers and few shots made their way to Jones in goal.

Jones eventually made way for regular custodian Jarrod Kennedy after making a fine save from a promising Angkor attack. Toward the end of the half, Hahndorf had several chances to take the lead but profligacy in front of goal let them down.

Vickers shot over the crossbar, Gale could not find the target and N Stewart forced some good saves from the home goalkeeper as the Magpies were creating the better chances but failing to hit the back of the net.

In the second half, Angkor showed their intent with a set move that almost gave them a goal from the restart. The Magpies replied through N Stewart, the bustling forward forcing the ball into the penalty area to find Gale. The mercurial striker bore down on goal but zigged when he should have zagged in an attempt to go around the goalkeeper.

Soon after the Angkor ‘keeper was again the impediment with a Gale shot finding the diminutive custodian. Angkor also had several good chances go begging; Kennedy on hand to effect the saves and some Hornbill shooting was wide of the mark.

A Magpie attack was repelled and the long clearance eluded the Hahndorf defence. It was all the speedy Angkor forward required and he arrowed in on goal and tucked a neat shot under Kennedy to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Hahndorf should have equalised soon after when Vickers and N Stewart combined to pierce the wing of Hornbill. Several Magpie players were lined up for the cross and it fell to Gale. Unfortunately, he skewed his shot high and wide of goal.

Angkor responded with their own glaring miss; Kennedy did well to fend off a fierce drive and the open goal beckoned for the follow up striker but he shinned the ball over the bar from the six-yard box. Mitch Miller entered the match as the Magpies sought to find their shooting boots.

Scopazzi went agonisingly close with a scorching free kick that brushed the upright and then Miller almost broke through but an unfavourable bounce gave him little purchase for his header over the goalkeeper.

An attack by Hornbill was only partly cleared and the ball was sent back into the penalty area for an Angkor header to make it 3-1. B Stewart and Miller combined for a chance but some determined defending blocked the shot.

Grant was industrious in the middle of the park and his drive was keeping Hornbill on their toes. A series of passes opened up Angkor and B Stewart broke through for a one-on-one opportunity but the shot was parried by the ‘keeper. Grant picked up the loose ball and a goal looked imminent however an errant bobble screwed the shot wide of the mark, the play summing up Hahndorf’s day in front of goal.

As if to emphasise the seemingly charmed Hornbill goal, Vickers then drove a header against the crossbar from Roennfeldt’s fine cross. Hornbill replied with a late attack and Kennedy made a tremendous double save but could do nothing to prevent the rebound being slotted away. Miller had a final chance to reply for the Magpies but his lob went wide of the goal.

It was a frustrating finish to the season for Hahndorf but in a testing year they achieved their objective of avoiding relegation. Best on the day for the Magpies was David Grant, the captain busy in the midfield and providing some fine attacking passes. Stephen Ness and Hamish Vickers also had bright performances on a day when Hahndorf played well but could not find the finishing touch.

Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves worked hard for an emphatic 5-2 victory over Angkor Hornbill to end the season in high spirits.

The Magpies started the match in quick fashion, Chris Hyde, Harvey Watson, Luke Jones and Aaron Fiora forcing Angkor back from the opening whistle. An early free to Hyde saw the ball graze the upright but soon after the experienced striker found the target.

Johannes Edler drove in an inch perfect corner and Hyde buried his header past the static Hornbill defence. The hosts almost levelled soon after but a good block by goalkeeper Blake Horton kept the ball out and Brendan Kilpatrick made certain with a booming clearance.

A flowing move by the Magpies resulted in their second goal, Stuart Thomas and Scott Schubert combining to release Watson on the wing. Passing inside to Hyde brought on the switch of play and Fiora drove into the penalty area. Bearing in on goal, the youngster buried a sharp drive past the isolated Hornbill ‘keeper.

The Hahndorf defence of James Stratfold, Graham Philips, Kilpatrick and Edler stemmed the response from the hosts with few shots getting through to Horton. The Magpies continued to offer a solid wall of resistance for the remainder of the half.

Hahndorf began the second half in encouraging form and soon had added their third goal. Thomas flighted in a tempting cross and Hyde latched onto the disputed ball to bundle it into the net.

Thomas was again the provider soon after for Watson but the skilled attacker missed the target with his effort. An anxious moment occurred in the Magpie back line when an offside was flagged but ignored and this allowed the Angkor forward in on goal. However, Philips was immense in defence and prevented a strike on goal and his team-mates raced back to lend a hand.

A quick counter by Hornbill saw them pull a goal back with the shot sliding under Horton. Encouraged, Angkor poured forward and scored their second soon after, the referee again ignoring the flagged offside and allowing play to continue to the ire of the Magpie defence.

Angkor sensed a way back into the match but Schubert, Thomas and Kilpatrick steadied the ship and a period of robust play brought few chances but raised the temperature of the match. Hahndorf saw off the Hornbill challenge and Watson made a fine run into the penalty area before being cynically brought down.

A minor scuffle almost boiled over but Hyde extracted some justice with a perfect penalty that gave him his hat-trick and put the Magpies 4-2 up. Hahndorf brought on Jason McKenzie and a few more willing tackles on the park almost turned the contest ugly.

Edmondo Palombo made an appearance to cool the situation down and Hahndorf returned to the attractive, attacking play that had kept the hosts on the back foot. A few more chances fell the Magpies way before Hyde put the match beyond doubt with another converted penalty.

It was a terrific end to the season for the Hahndorf Reserves and they all contributed in a fine display to thoroughly outplay their opponents for much of the match. Best on the day was Chris Hyde who not only scored four goals but was imperious on the ball to create time and space for his team-mates. Scott Schubert and Stuart Thomas also were in fine form on a day when there were no passengers in the team.