Round 10: Adelaide Titans V Hahndorf

Adelaide Titans V Hahndorf

Hahndorf suffered a bitter defeat against the Adelaide Titans in the tenth round of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League, the Hills side punished for not taking their chances in the 5-1 loss.

The two teams began the match three points apart in mid-table and the opening exchanges reflected this, neither side taking an immediate grip of the game. The Magpies kicked with the stiff wind and tried to make use of the firm, wide surface, utilising the speedsters Kayne Stubing and Jordan Webber up front. Webber looked to have scored for the Magpies but was deemed to have been offside when he received a through ball.

The Titans replied with the opening goal; what appeared to be a legitimate handball call was ignored by the referee and the Titans’ exchanged a couple of passes on the edge of the box before firing past Hahndorf ‘keeper Mark McGrath. Hahndorf should have equalised soon after, a corner finding Matt Norris and he headed across goal to Leo Santangelo but the usually reliable sharpshooter fired over the bar from ten metres.

Dan Hermel was busy in the midfield, his quick feet and skill pinpointing passes to Luke Guest, Steve Ness and Santangelo, the latter set up by Hermel but dragging his shot wide. Hahndorf settled into the match and put together some nice moves and the defensive line containing Jack Farrimond, Michael Lewington, Norris and Ash Parr looked more comfortable.

However, an ill-timed challenge by Norris presented the Titans with a penalty and they duly slotted it down the middle to go 2-0 up. The Magpies did not seem to be getting the rub of the green and soon they were 3-0 down after a free kick was driven deep into the penalty box, the ball ricocheting off a few players before going into the net.

Hahndorf rallied to get some forward momentum, Guest and Hermel the major protagonists with Parr very solid in defence. Ness found some space out wide and crossed to Santangelo but again the shot at goal was wayward. Luck was not on the visitor’s side with several decisions not going Hahndorf’s way and this added to their frustration. The half ended badly for the Magpies when a nasty knee injury forced McGrath from the field, leaving Guest to take the gloves and giving Rupert “Crusher” Lindon another 45 minutes of action after his Reserves exploits.

The Titans began the second stanza with a firm examination of Guest’s goalkeeping skills, the utility player tipping a fierce drive over the bar and then later showing fine positional sense to collect a shot after it rebounded off the post. Hahndorf fought back to mount a few attacks but had trouble finding a clear shot on goal, Parr having the best effort after beating two opponents but shooting wide of the mark.

The match threatened to descend into chaos after an altercation saw handbags at two yards but in a strange twist the referee allowed play to continue before deciding a drop ball was the way to go.

The match ebbed and flowed with neither team threatening goal until Hahndorf sat off the Titans and they scored with goal of the match, a fierce drive from distance finding the top corner and giving Guest no chance. With twenty minutes remaining, Kieran Guest was brought on but it was his goalkeeper brother that saw the next action, making a great save from a free kick before Parr and Hermel combined to clear the danger.

The teams continued to trade attacks before Hahndorf finally made a good guild up count, K.Guest striking a fine shot that found the inside of the post, for a 4-1 score. The goal encouraged the Magpies and they pushed for a further score, a loose ball in the Titans penalty area bouncing around until it was poked wide of goal. Santangleo then cut a swathe through the Titans defence, pulling the ball back to K.Guest but his volley went straight at the Titan’s ‘keeper.

The Titan’s chanced their arm with a long ball over the top that beat everyone except Parr who cleared off the line. Defender Norris then turned attacker, going on a surging run and exchanging passes with K.Guest but his defender gene regained control and he too shot at the ‘keeper.

The Titans sealed the match with their fifth, a neat build up resulting in a goal from the six-yard box. Jesse Konstantinoff made a late entry to the game and was involved in Hahndorf’s last meaningful attack, Parr showing extraordinary skill to leave two opponents in his wake and finding Santangelo. Konstantinoff picked up Santangelo’s pass and centred to K.Guest, his shot unfortunatey finding the near post.

The result was a blow to the Magpies and they will look to regroup before next weeks important encounter with Budapest. Best on the day for Hahndorf was Dan Hermel who held the midfield together and was instrumental on the ball. Ash Parr was a major contributor in defence and attack with Luke Guest also having a fine game on the pitch and in the goalkeeper role.



Reserves

A brace of goals to Kieran Guest in the first half laid the foundation for the Hahndorf Reserves to topple the second-placed Adelaide Titans, the strong defensive Magpie unit frustrating the hosts during the 1-3 win.

The Magpies kicked with the fresh breeze in the first half, looking to capitalise on the prevailing conditions on the wide, even pitch. Nathaniel Brooke returned to take his place between the sticks with Kyle Eglinton, Andy Craig, Tim Staniford and Dan Mardle forming the back line. The visitors initially pushed the Titans onto the back foot with some early forays forward, but Kieran Guest and Jesse Konstantinoff did not trouble the home ‘keeper during the early exchanges.

The Titans moved the ball well into the wind but Shaun Smith, Angus Hambrook, Rupert “Crusher” Lindon and John Lawler worked hard to close them down in the midfield. The Titans had several good chances to open the scoring but their shots were errant and Brooke made a couple of good saves to keep the score sheet clean. The Magpies hit back with some efforts of their own; Hambrook celebrated his return to open play with an audacious overhead kick that sailed just over the bar as Hahndorf began to build up their game.

The Titans had a period of strong possession and should have scored but for some scrambling and desperate defence from the Magpies. Then the hosts did score but the goal was rightfully adjudged to have been from an offside position. The Magpies took advantage immediately and forced a corner from their next attack. Lawler drove the corner into the near post and Craig used his vast experience to find the net with a cultured volley off his shin.

The Hahndorf team drew confidence from their lead and held the Titans at bay as the hosts sought to find an equaliser. A clearance from Craig soon had them on the back foot when Guest latched onto the ball, the tall striker escaping the defence to slot the ball past a stranded Titan ‘keeper for a 2-0 lead.

The Magpies rounded off their impressive half with a third goal, a tidy piece of play where Hahndorf made the most of their possession, getting the ball wide to Lawler and onto Konstantinoff. The hard running forward worked his trickery to create space and sent in a fine cross which Guest headed into the corner of the net.

The Titans went on the attack immediately from the restart but the Magpies were prepared for the onslaught. Smith, Lindon and Hambrook harried the midfield while the Hahndorf defence were alert to the Titan threats. Several chances fell the Titans way but they failed to find the target until a series of corners unsettled the Magpies and the home side scored with a header.

With thirty minutes remaining, the Titans redoubled their efforts on goal but the Magpies rallied to put up a stern resistance. Numerous times the Titans found the path to goal blocked or the wind taking the ball over the byline from over hit passes. Konstantinoff worked tirelessly in the forward line to keep the Titans under pressure and Brad Coleman entered the match to give Guest a well-earned rest.

Hahndorf battled for every ball and the frustration grew for the Titans, the Magpies all fighting to keep their two-goal margin. The Hahndorf defensive structure held firm to the end and the final whistle signalled a great victory compiled from excellent performances all over the park. However, Man of the Match honours went to Jesse Konstantinoff, the striker setting up one goal and his work rate highly industrious all match.

Next week the Magpies return to the Pine Avenue Arena to tackle Adelaide Budapest while the Super Cs have the long road trip to One Tree Hill.