The Comets went at the Magpies straight from the opening whistle, putting Steve Noble, Matt Norris, Luke Guest and Dan Hermel on the back foot from the outset. Several chances by the hosts had goalkeeper Mark McGrath in the action before the Comets pressure netted them the opening goal after ten minutes from a well-directed header.
Hahndorf bounced back through the hardworking midfield of Jack Farrimond, Scott Schubert, Tom Holland and Shaun Smith, bringing forwards Kayne Stubing and Leo Santangelo into the match. The pitch made first time passing and control difficult, the irregular surface pockmarked by divots and hollows, with both sides contending with some interesting bounces and bobbles.
The Comets looked to increase their lead and had two good chances but the headers on these occasions were not as accurate and fell to McGrath’s arms. Hahndorf struck back through Hermel, the quick full back launching a ball to the fleet-footed Stubing who raced past the static Comets defence to strike a fine shot past the advancing ‘keeper.
With parity restored, the match began to get a little scrappy; a few willing tackles in combination with the undulating surface raising the ire of a few players. Hahndorf had a good opportunity to score through Smith, but he shot wide after a ranging free kick by Santangelo found him unmarked.
The match was played predominately in midfield, with neither side fashioning many clear chances and McGrath in good position to deal with the Comets threat. With half time looming, Hahndorf had a contentious penalty decision awarded against them despite vigorous protestations by the visitors. With the Magpie player going to ground under a challenge, the ball hit a divot and took a deviation, striking the player on the upper arm while he was lying on the ground.
The penalty was given and Comets player shot truly to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. The Magpies rallied back but could not find an equaliser in the last ten minutes of the half, but took some solace in having the majority of possession for that period.
The second stanza got off to a fairly even affair with the Comets and Hahndorf looking to take the initiative. Holland was industrious, with Schubert and Farrimond battling in the middle to win the contested ball. Hermel exploited the flank and Smith also used his speed to good advantage.
A Comets attack was quashed by McGrath, parrying the sharp effort on goal and the ball spilled to the middle of the area but there was no-one there for the Comets. The state of the pitch was exemplified when a Comets player burst clear through on goal but a pothole tripped him up and he fell flat on his face, to the amusement of both sets of supporters.
A few tenacious tackles lifted the tempo as both teams looked for the next score. A potentially dangerous Comets free kick loomed but the chance was spurned at the back post.
Farrimond then almost equalised for the Magpies, latching on to a loose ball in the penalty area and driving his shot against the goalpost. Hahndorf kept up the pressure and gained a fortuitous corner when Hermel’s looped shot was deemed to have been tipped over the bar by the Comets’ ‘keeper.
Hahndorf almost took full advantage of the decision as Norris crashed his header against the crossbar. Hahndorf brought on Jesse Konstantinoff as they went searching for an equaliser, but it was the Comets who had the next openings, only to be denied by Guest’s saving tackle and again when McGrath was in good position to make a save.
With the clock ticking down, the Magpies went close after a good build up found Schubert in space but his shot flew wide. Norris kept the Comets at bay by winning some defensive headers, as he had all match, before the referee signalled an end to the contest.
Best on the day was Dan Hermel, resolute in defence and quick on the counter attack, with Shaun Smith and Mark McGrath showing solid returns to form.
Reserves
The Magpie Reserves fought out a deserved 2-0 win over the Adelaide Comets, a solid defensive effort the foundation in gaining the three points.
Hahndorf took to the pitch with Luke Guest in goal and a backline containing Daniel Mardle and Kieran Guest with veterans Andy Craig and “El Presidente” Stuart Thomas. The Comets got off to a confident start and the Magpies were alert early as the two teams grappled with the rough surface, rain just before kick off adding another facet to the ground conditions.
Rupert “Crusher” Lindon, Tom Stevens, Steve Ness and John Lawler worked hard to dull the Comets’ possession in midfield while opening up the flanks in attack. Jesse Konstantinoff and Chris Hyde led the Magpies up front but despite some good build up play the Magpies struggled to find the target early on. The Comets also had a few chances at goal but L.Guest was never tested and looked comfortable under pressure.
Thomas won many aerial duels and K.Guest was having a fine match in the middle of defence as the Magpies blunted the Comets attacks. Lindon made several runs down the wing to get Hahndorf in good positions, but few clear scoring opportunities fell to the Magpies.
The best chance of the half fell to the Comets just on half time, when the Comets eventually managed to put in a good cross from the right and it was nodded just past the post.
In the second half, the Comets put Hahndorf on the back foot for a short period while never managing to find a shot at goal, the rear guard of the Magpies halting any attack. Hahndorf worked back into the match, Stevens, Lawler and Lindon finding openings and Konstantinoff made constant runs in the forward line.
The breakthrough goal came when Craig sent Hyde away with a measured chip down the wing. Hyde took the ball in his stride and he forged into the penalty area where a Comets defender brought him down and a penalty was awarded. Konstantinoff stepped up to take the kick, crisply knocking it past the Comets ‘keeper to put Hahndorf into the lead.
The Comets tried to hit back but they could not get their final pass right, Ness and K.Guest forcing errors in the final third of the pitch and any shots were wildly astray or fell straight to the Magpie ‘keeper. The game grew in intensity with a few strong tackles, showing both sides were not about to concede ground.
Angus Hambrook was brought on for visitors and quickly exploited the tiring Comets on the wing. Bursting clear of the middle, Hambrook drove downfield and lashed a shot across the goal. Unable to hold the shot, the goalkeeper parried it to the waiting Konstantinoff and he fired the ball into the net for Hahndorf’s second score.
The Comets again tried to go on the attack but the Hanhdorf defence was resolute in the final twenty minutes, Tim Staniford ably stepping into the breech when K.Guest was forced from the field through injury.
Best on Ground was Jesse Konstantinoff, scoring both goals and chasing hard all day. Rupert Lindon, Steve Ness and Kieran Guest also had outstanding games in a great team effort with contributions from all across the park.
Super Cs
The Super Cs played Flinders University at Hahndorf and despite going three goals down, rallied to a 2-3 final score, sharpshooter Graham Knight bagging both for Hahndorf.
Next week Hahndorf host the Southern Breakers at the Pine Avenue Arena while the Super Cs are away to Old Ignatians.
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